Iran declares the Strait of Hormuz is back under its strict military control due to the ongoing American blockade.
The Wall Street Journal reports about 20 vessels have turned back, with brokers and a ship owner detailing the $2 million fee and radio warnings from the IRGC.
The Khatam Al-Anbiyaa Headquarters issued a formal statement providing the official Iranian rationale for maintaining control of the Strait of Hormuz.
New reports from merchant ships cite a direct radio warning from the Iranian Navy declaring the strait shut, adding on-the-ground confirmation to the earlier formal statement.
New reports confirm the Iranian navy is actively broadcasting radio warnings to ships in the Strait, providing on-the-water enforcement of the closure.
Al Jazeera reports the Iranian navy is broadcasting the closure warnings directly to commercial vessels via radio.
The message provides the exact wording of the IRGC Navy's radio warning, specifying that vessels need 'prior verbal permission' and that 'failure to comply will result in being fired upon.'
Iran's Command Center explicitly stated the closure is due to the US not fulfilling its obligations, and noted the strait was open for only one day before being re-closed.
Colonel Zolfaqari, the official spokesman for the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, made the announcement, providing a direct military source for the declaration.
Iran's joint military command explicitly linked the re-closure to the U.S. blockade, calling it 'piracy'. A second source, TankerTrackers.com, confirms vessels, including an Indian-flagged super tanker, were forced to turn around after being fired upon.
Iranian media has explicitly linked the continuation of its strict control over the Strait of Hormuz to the U.S. refusal to end its blockade.
New reports indicate an oil tanker has been struck near Oman.
Iran explicitly states the reimposition of strict military control is a direct result of the American blockade.