Iran declares Strait of Hormuz closed

Iran's state broadcaster IRIB has announced that the Strait of Hormuz is now closed again, with passage requiring Iran's approval. The announcement cites the United States' failure to fulfill its obligations as the reason for the closure. This follows earlier declarations by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy that the strategic waterway was closed. The closure escalates the ongoing crisis in the vital global shipping lane, where tensions between the US and Iran have been mounting for weeks.