Iran has moved to prevent ships linked to the United States and Israel from using the Strait of Hormuz, escalating pressure on two countries involved in the conflict with Tehran. The move matters because the narrow waterway is a vital route for global energy supplies, so restrictions could disrupt trade and increase fuel costs beyond the region.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said shipping to and from ports of countries supporting the US and Israel would be prohibited, while Iranian state media reported that several oil tankers had been turned away. The action followed wider fighting and efforts by international actors to restore safe navigation; Iran later indicated it would facilitate humanitarian shipments through the strait.