Mohsen Rezaei, a member of Iran’s Expediency Discernment Council, has officially announced the suspension of trade through the Strait of Hormuz, according to the Telegram channel “Rybar.”

Commercial vessels appear to be able to exit the strait, but shipping companies are reportedly unwilling to take the risk.

At the same time, Iran issued a notice imposing a full ban on the passage of American commercial vessels and military ships through the strait, warning that violations would be met with strikes.

The channel notes an important nuance: the United States has a very limited presence in commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. There are virtually no major American carriers operating in the Persian Gulf.

However, there are direct and indirect economic interests involved. About half an hour earlier, an oil tanker flying the flag of Palau was struck five nautical miles off the coast of Oman’s Musandam exclave, right at the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz. The 20-member crew was evacuated, four of them injured.