Iran announced the full closure of the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, April 18, 2026, placing the waterway under strict control of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].

This move threatens one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints, which links the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman. Because a significant portion of global energy supplies passes through this corridor, any prolonged closure could disrupt international oil markets and escalate military tensions in the region.

Iranian military officials said the closure is a retaliation for what they describe as a U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. The IRGC Navy has warned all maritime traffic that any vessel attempting to enter the area will be viewed as collaborating with the United States.

"Approaching the Strait of Hormuz will be considered as cooperation with the enemy," an IRGC Navy spokesperson said [1].

The Iranian regime said that the Strait of Hormuz is under full IRGC control [4]. Military officials said that the enforcement of this closure would be aggressive, with the IRGC already firing on a tanker to demonstrate its resolve [3].

"Ships approaching the vital waterway will be targeted," the IRGC Navy spokesperson said [5].

International observers are monitoring the situation as the IRGC maintains its position. The Iranian military has not specified a timeline for reopening the strait, nor has it detailed the specific conditions under which the waterway would be reopened to commercial traffic [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].

“"The Strait of Hormuz is under full IRGC control."”

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz represents a significant escalation in the confrontation between Iran and the U.S. By transitioning from diplomatic tension to the physical blockade of a global transit point, Iran is leveraging its geographic position to exert pressure on the U.S. naval blockade of its own ports. This action places global energy security at risk and increases the likelihood of direct kinetic engagement between the IRGC and international naval forces.