Archive · 7 Oct 2026
Iran Says It Will Close Illegal Strait of Hormuz Routes
Iran says it will soon close some routes through the Strait of Hormuz.
An Iranian adviser says small boats use these routes to smuggle oil.
The strait is an important passage for ships carrying energy supplies.
Iran and the United States have been exchanging ideas about ending the war and reopening the waterway.
US Vice President JD Vance says an agreement would need real steps from Iran on its nuclear program.
US officials have questioned who makes decisions in Iran, but an Iranian spokesperson says the United States knows how Iran’s system works.
Vance also says Iran can sometimes strike commercial ships but cannot usually stop energy exports.
The war and higher energy prices have become issues in US election campaigning.
Mohammadreza Naqdi, an adviser to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards commander, said Iran would soon close routes it considers illegal in the Strait of Hormuz.
Naqdi said the routes were cut through rocky passages and used by small boats smuggling oil.
The announcement comes as Iran and the United States exchange proposals aimed at ending the war and reopening the strategic waterway.
JD Vance said the United States remains open to an agreement but wants concrete Iranian concessions on its nuclear program.
Iranian and US officials disputed whether Washington understands who makes decisions in Iran, while the conflict’s costs and energy prices weigh on US politics.
- Who
- Mohammadreza Naqdi, an adviser to the Revolutionary Guards commander, made the announcement; Iran and the United States are also involved in talks.
- What
- Iran says it will soon close routes through the Strait of Hormuz that it considers illegal.
- When
- Naqdi made the announcement on Wednesday; the routes are to be closed soon.
- Where
- The Strait of Hormuz.
- Why
- Naqdi said the routes were made by damaging rocky passages and are used by small boats smuggling oil.
US officials’ assessment
Iranian officials’ response
Understanding Iran’s decision-making
US officials’ assessment
JD Vance said it was unclear how much authority Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi have, and said it was not clear how Iran makes decisions.
Iranian officials’ response
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said US officials know their Iranian counterparts and understand Iran’s decision-making system; he blamed contradictory US statements for the problem.
The Strait’s shipping and energy exports
US officials’ assessment
Vance said Iranian troops can periodically strike commercial ships but are largely unable to prevent energy exports through the strait.
Iranian officials’ response
Naqdi said small boats use certain routes to smuggle oil and that Iran will close those routes; he challenged the account that Gulf oil flows are returning to pre-war levels.
- Announced action
- Iran says it will soon close routes it considers illegal.
- Announcing official
- Mohammadreza Naqdi, an adviser to the Revolutionary Guards commander.
- Routes described as
- Passages cut through rocky areas, according to Naqdi.
- Reported users
- Small boats allegedly smuggling oil.
- Diplomatic context
- Iran and the United States have exchanged proposals aimed at ending the war and reopening the strait.
- US position
- JD Vance said a deal would require concrete Iranian nuclear concessions.
- War cost
- The article says the war costs $3 billion per month.