The Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PSGA) has announced a temporary halt to the processing of transit permits for the Strait of Hormuz, declaring that passage through the critical waterway is currently unfeasible.
The authority attributed the suspension to recent military actions by US forces in the region, marking a significant escalation in the operational risks facing maritime traffic.
This development follows earlier reports that the PSGA had declared the Strait of Hormuz totally closed, with the waterway remaining shut until the regional situation stabilizes.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy had also declared the Strait closed to all maritime traffic effective immediately, hours after the United States conducted military operations in the area.
The convergence of these announcements signals a near-total blockade of the chokepoint, which handles a substantial portion of global oil and liquefied natural gas flows.
The suspension of permit processing adds a layer of administrative and legal uncertainty to the physical closure, complicating efforts by shipping companies to reroute or secure exemptions.