Astronomers have confirmed that ASASSN-24fw dimmed by an extraordinary 97% over a period of more than nine months, starting in late 2024 making it one of the longest and deepest stellar eclipses ever recorded. The star, located in the Monoceros constellation, was monitored through sky surveys that track brightness changes in stars over time. The data clearly shows a prolonged and structured drop in light, far beyond what a normal planet could cause. Scientists say the most likely explanation is a massive ringed object passing in front of the star either a brown dwarf or a super Jupiter–type planet. Unlike typical transits that last hours or days, this event stretched across months, pointing to something enormous in size. The ring system itself is estimated to span about 16 million miles (25 million km), making it one of the largest ever inferred. As different parts of the rings moved across the star, they created layered dimming patterns, which allowed astronomers to study the...
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh says the Strait of Hormuz remains open to international shipping, but all vessels must coordinate with Iranian military authorities before passage due to wartime safety measures, including the presence of naval mines laid during the conflict.
According to his remarks in recent interviews, Iran is not closing the waterway, but it is enforcing a controlled navigation system where ships are guided through designated safe corridors monitored by Iranian forces. Officials say this is necessary because parts of the strait were mined during the conflict, and those areas still require military oversight to prevent accidents.
Under the current system, civilian vessels including those from the United States are allowed to pass as long as they are not engaging in what Iran defines as “hostile behavior” and comply with coordination procedures set by Iranian authorities.
Iranian officials describe this as a wartime safety arrangement rather than a full closure, insisting that safe passage maps and controlled corridors have been established to allow shipping to continue despite the ongoing conflict in the region.
The development comes amid heightened tensions in the Gulf, where shipping traffic has been heavily disrupted since the escalation of the US Israel Iran conflict. Recent reports indicate that vessel movements through the strait have dropped sharply, with many ships waiting or rerouting due to security risks and uncertainty over passage conditions.
Analysts say Iran’s approach effectively gives it operational control over one of the world’s most critical oil chokepoints, even without formally declaring a blockade. This has contributed to volatility in global energy markets and raised concerns among shipping companies and insurers operating in the region.
While Tehran insists the strait remains open, the reality on the ground is a tightly managed maritime corridor operating under military supervision a system that keeps trade flowing, but under strict political and security conditions.

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