Strait of Hormuz ONLY Closed To Ships From The US, Israel and Europe - IRGC

(CNN) Iran’s revolutionary guards said Thursday that the Strait of Hormuz , one of the world’s most important shipping lanes, which has seen traffic dry up since the war began, is only closed to ships from the US, Israel, Europe and other Western allies.

“We had previously said that, based on international laws and resolutions, in times of war, the Islamic Republic of Iran will have the right to control the passage through the Strait of Hormuz,” said the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, according to state broadcaster IRIB.

If vessels belonging to the US, Israel, Europe “and their supporters … are observed, they will certainly be hit,” the IRGC warned.

The strait has been effectively closed since the US and Israel launched their joint operation against Iran on Saturday, sending oil prices surging and threatening to upend the global economy.