IRGC claims control of Strait of Hormuz as US maintains naval blockade

Tehran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on Monday that it has achieved decisive control over the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime chokepoint through which roughly a fifth of global oil shipments pass. The statement came amid ongoing U.S. naval operations in the region, which the United States describes as a “protective presence” to ensure the free flow of commerce and to deter Iranian aggression. The IRGC’s claim was made during a televised briefing in which senior commanders cited recent patrols and the deployment of coastal missile batteries as evidence of their operational dominance.

U.S. Central Command confirmed that American warships and aircraft continue to operate in the waterway, maintaining a “naval blockade” that it says is intended to enforce international sanctions and to monitor Iranian activity. Both sides have warned of heightened tensions, but no direct confrontations have been reported since the IRGC’s announcement. The competing narratives underscore the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz and suggest that diplomatic efforts to de‑escalate the dispute will remain a priority for regional and global stakeholders.