The Strait of Hormuz found itself at the center of a new wave of tension on June 19: the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced the reopening of the strategic waterway — citing continued Israeli operations in Lebanon. However, just a few hours later, Iran's Foreign Ministry effectively disavowed this statement. The IRGC's signal was sent via maritime radio channels — precisely where ship captains were expecting it, not journalists. The military announced: since Israel has not withdrawn its troops from Lebanon, and the U.S. military presence in the region remains, the strait "remains closed until these two conditions are met." Ships were instructed not to approach the strait.