Crisis in the Persian Gulf escalates, Iran blocks the Strait of Hormuz

Tehran has closed the Strait of Hormuz again, citing the ongoing US naval blockade of Iran, the Iranian armed forces command said, according to news agencies. Control of the strait has returned to its previous state, meaning it is once again under the firm control of the Iranian armed forces, their spokesman said.

Iran will block the Strait of Hormuz until the United States ends its blockade of Iranian ports. The strait is a key shipping route for oil exports from the Persian Gulf.