Iran has formally declared the Strait of Hormuz closed until further notice, according to maritime intelligence firm Windward, as the United States launched a third round of military strikes against Iranian targets on July 11.
According to Windward, the closure declaration came after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) struck the Cyprus-flagged container ship M/V GFS Galaxy while it was transiting the Strait. The IRGC said the vessel had used an unauthorized route. Windward reports the strike caused significant damage to the ship’s engine room, with one crew member reported missing.
U.S. Central Command confirmed via a statement cited by Windward that its forces began the third round of strikes at 7:15 p.m. ET on July 11, hitting approximately 140 Iranian military targets in response to the attack on the container ship.
Retaliation Spreads Across the Gulf
Windward reports that Iranian retaliatory missile and drone strikes widened geographically, with the IRGC targeting Prince Hassan Air Base in Jordan. Air defense systems were activated across Qatar, Bahrain, and the UAE, according to the report. Bahrain reportedly sounded sirens and told residents to shelter, while Qatar’s Ministry of Defense said it intercepted a missile attack targeting the country.
In response, Qatar’s Transport Ministry issued an urgent advisory suspending all maritime vessel activity until further notice — described by Windward as the first blanket maritime suspension by a Gulf state since the conflict began, with direct implications for LNG export flows from Ras Laffan.
Transit Data Shows Southern Corridor Collapse
Windward’s transit data for July 11 recorded only 21 total transits through the Strait — nine inbound and 12 outbound. The report notes that the southern corridor, previously sustained by U.S. escort activity, saw near-total collapse, with just one of 12 outbound vessels using it and no inbound traffic recorded on that route.
Export Volumes Hold Steady Despite Escalation
Despite the intensifying conflict, Windward’s analysis of Vortexa data indicates Iranian crude export volumes remained largely unchanged, at approximately 1.28 million barrels per day, roughly flat against the prior week. However, the firm notes that visibility into these flows has collapsed due to widespread AIS transponder shutdowns following a loading spike on July 6, which Windward links to reports that Iran rushed cargo out ahead of a feared blockade.
Separately, Windward identified nine OFAC-sanctioned tankers operated by the National Iranian Tanker Company that have gone dark off Port Klang, Malaysia, allegedly carrying around 14.59 million barrels of crude and condensate valued at approximately $989 million, along what the firm describes as an established Iran-to-China laundering route via Malaysian blending.
Does This Matter to You?
This escalation carries direct implications for anyone monitoring transit risk, insurance costs, or crude flows through one of the world’s most critical chokepoints. Windward’s data shows war risk insurance in the region running at four to six times pre-crisis levels, affecting the cost of crude imports moving through Hormuz regardless of origin. The near-collapse of the southern corridor and Qatar’s blanket maritime suspension also signal disruption to LNG export scheduling from the region. Oman has drafted a tentative route management proposal, according to Windward, while U.S. officials have stated that nuclear talks cannot progress until the Strait is secured — a signal that normal commercial transit conditions are unlikely to return in the near term.
Windward assesses the overall operational risk environment across the Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Oman, and northern Arabian Gulf as critical.
Gulf Bunkering does not provide operational or security guidance. This article is for informational purposes only. Operators should consult flag state authorities, P&I clubs, and relevant advisories for decisions relating to transit planning.
Sources: Windward
