Shipping sources say Iran threatening ships trying to pass Hormuz

By AFP 8 April 2026, 5:27 pm

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A man walks along the shore as oil tankers and cargo ships line up in the Strait of Hormuz, seen from Khor Fakkan, United Arab Emirates, March 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

LONDON — The Iranian navy threatened ships attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz without Tehran’s permission with destruction, adding that transit through the waterway remained shut, according to several shipping sources.

“Any vessel trying to travel into the sea … will be targeted and destroyed…” the message says.

The US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has claimed that the key waterway is open, while a senior Iranian official involved in talks with the US tells Reuters Iran could open the Strait of Hormuz in a limited and controlled way tomorrow or Friday ahead of a meeting between US and Iranian officials in Pakistan, implying it is not open yet.

Reuters and Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.