IRGC says Strait of Hormuz to stay closed, “aggressor will be punished today”
Tehran: Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has declared that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until what it described as continued US threats and interference in regional maritime activities come to an end, following reported American airstrikes on dozens of IRGC-linked targets across Iran.
In a statement published on its Telegram channel, the IRGC said the strategically important waterway would not be reopened as long as US officials continued what it called “provocative rhetoric” and military involvement in the region.
“The Strait of Hormuz will remain closed while American threats and interference with maritime navigation continue,” the statement said.
The IRGC reiterated Iran’s longstanding position that it exercises control over the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical oil shipping routes, and warned that foreign military forces would not be allowed to operate freely in the area.
“The Strait of Hormuz is part of our territory, and the brave sailors of the IRGC Navy maintain full control over it. No external power that has travelled thousands of kilometres to this region will be permitted to interfere,” the statement added.
The Guard Corps also issued a direct warning, saying that “the aggressor will be punished today,” without providing further details. It further cautioned that countries supporting the United States could also face consequences if they continue their current policies.
“Any country assisting the aggressor and failing to change its behaviour will receive a severe response,” the statement warned.
The latest remarks come amid escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran following recent US military operations targeting IRGC positions, raising fresh concerns over regional security and the safety of international shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital passage for global energy supplies.
