IRGC Declares Strait of Hormuz "Fully Closed": 350 Tankers Stranded as Iran Defies G7 Demands

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a stern declaration on Friday, confirming that the Strait of Hormuz is completely closed to all maritime traffic. Officials warned that any attempt to traverse the vital waterway without authorization would be met with a "decisive response."

According to the Tasnim news agency, the IRGC Navy recently intercepted three cargo ships of various nationalities attempting to enter the designated transit corridor. The vessels were reportedly forced to turn back after receiving warnings from Iranian naval units.

Global Economy "Held Hostage"

The closure has triggered an international outcry. During a G7 ministerial meeting in France, British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper called for an immediate resolution to the conflict, accusing Tehran of "holding the global economy hostage" by weaponizing one of the world's most critical energy chokepoints.

Reports from Iran's Fars News Agency suggest a massive naval logjam is building up. Currently, over 350 oil and gas tankers are anchored in the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Gulf, awaiting Iranian permission to pass. This fleet includes:

25 Supertankers (VLCCs)

200 Standard oil tankers

70 Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) carriers

Iranian authorities have reportedly ordered these vessels to disable their tracking systems and remain in place until further notice.

Humanitarian and Security Crisis

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) estimates that approximately 20,000 sailors are currently trapped aboard roughly 3,200 vessels—including tankers and commercial ships—west of the Strait. Since the onset of hostilities, at least 21 vessels have been targeted or reported attacks.

A Glimmer of Diplomacy?

In a surprising turn, U.S. President Donald Trump indicated that Iran might allow a limited number of tankers to pass as a "goodwill gesture." Trump described the potential move as a "gift" intended to demonstrate Tehran's seriousness in ongoing negotiations to end the war. This follows weeks of intense military pressure, including Israeli strikes on Iran’s largest natural gas processing facility at the South Pars field.