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IRGC's comes shortly after US President Donald Trump ordered a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz following stalled negotiations with Iran over its nuclear programme.
A vessel at the Strait of Hormuz, off the coast of Oman’s Musandam province, April 12, 2026. REUTERS(REUTERS)Iran’s elite force, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), said on Sunday that it has full control over the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route, amid escalating tensions with the United States.
In a statement posted in Persian on social media, the IRGC’s naval command declared: “All traffic… is under the full control of the armed forces.”
The IRGC issued a stark warning to adversaries, saying any miscalculation in the region would have severe consequences. “The enemy will become trapped in a deadly vortex in the Strait if it makes the wrong move,” the statement said.
The message was accompanied by a video appearing to show vessels being tracked through targeting crosshairs, underscoring Iran’s claim of surveillance and operational readiness in the waterway.
Trump had warned that the US Navy would block ships entering or leaving the strait and threatened military action against any hostile moves, significantly raising the risk of confrontation in the region.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said: “Effective immediately, the United States Navy… will begin the process of BLOCKADING any and all Ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz.”
He added a stark warning: “Any Iranian who fires at us, or at peaceful vessels, will be BLOWN TO HELL!”
Talks ‘went well’ but nuclear issue stalled
Despite the escalation, Trump said marathon negotiations in Islamabad had made progress on several fronts. “The meeting went well, most points were agreed to,” he said.
However, he stressed that the core issue remained unresolved: “They were very unyielding as to the single most important issue,” referring to Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
US Vice President JD Vance, who led the talks, echoed the uncertainty, saying: “We leave here with a very simple proposal… We’ll see if the Iranians accept it.”
Strait closure at heart of dispute
Trump accused Iran of failing to honour a key condition of the ceasefire—keeping the strategic waterway open. “As they promised, they better begin the process of getting this INTERNATIONAL WATERWAY OPEN AND FAST!” he wrote.
The Strait of Hormuz handles roughly a fifth of global crude oil flows, making any disruption a major risk to global energy markets. Any disruption or military escalation in the narrow waterway could have immediate repercussions for global energy markets and maritime trade.
English (US) ·