Iran's Guards Warn Ships Against Strait of Hormuz Passage, EU Official ReportsEU Naval Mission Reports and Strategic Importance of the StraitIncident OverviewFeb 28 (Reuters) - An official from the European Union's naval mission Aspides said on Saturday that vessels have been receiving VHF transmission from Iran's Revolutionary Guards saying "no ship is allowed to pass the Strait of Hormuz". Significance of the Strait of HormuzGlobal Oil Export RouteThe strait is the world's most vital oil export route, which connects the biggest Gulf oil producers, such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq and the United Arab Emirates, with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. Iran's Position and Historical ContextOfficial ResponseThe official, who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity, said Iran had not formally confirmed any such order. Previous ThreatsRetaliatory MeasuresTehran has for years threatened to block the narrow waterway in retaliation for any attack on the Islamic Republic. (Reporting by Renee Maltezou; Editing by Aidan Lewis)

Source: Washington Post March 01, 2026 12:58 UTC