Iran intends to close "illegal" shipping "routes" through the Strait of Hormuz, said Mohammad Reza Naghdi, an adviser to the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran.

"The Strait of Hormuz is closed, we [i.e. Iran] will close the illegal routes also," Naghdi said, Iran's state television and radio company reports.

He added that the strait will remain closed until Iran's demands are met.