Maritime authorities said the Strait of Hormuz’s southern route remained open for shipping despite Iran’s declaration that the waterway was closed amid escalating tit-for-tat attacks. The Joint Maritime Information Center warned mariners of severe risk, including mine danger and increased naval radio communications. The developments came as the U.S. carried out additional strikes on Iranian targets, following attacks on shipping linked to the Omani corridor route. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it would not allow vessels to pass until “foreign interference ends,” while U.S. officials and allies maintained that the strait remained navigable. Higher-ed relevance: sustained shipping disruption directly affects the cost and reliability of energy and shipping inputs that drive inflation pressure—one of the key constraints on tuition, institutional budgets, and student financial aid purchasing power.