The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has declared that the strategic Strait of Hormuz will remain indefinitely closed as long as the United States persists with what it terms “interference” and “bellicose rhetoric” in the region, intensifying a dangerous maritime and military standoff.
In a forceful statement issued on Thursday, the IRGC detailed a tense incident from Tuesday night, revealing that two oil tankers had attempted to navigate what it described as an “unsafe southern route” following prompting from US aircraft. The naval force reported that one of the vessels caught fire during the maneuver, compelling both tankers to swiftly reverse course back into the strait’s main channel.
Asserting absolute control over the waterway, the IRGC declared: “The Strait of Hormuz is our territory, and the brave men of the IRGC Navy firmly control it. No outsider who has come from thousands of kilometers away will be allowed to interfere.” The statement added a stark warning of immediate retribution, noting that, “With the help of Almighty God, the aggressor will be punished today.”
The military branch also issued a sharp admonition to regional nations it accused of facilitating US operations, warning that they face severe consequences if they do not alter their stance. “Countries that are involved in assisting the aggressor, if they do not correct their behavior, will receive a harsh response,” the statement read.
Reaffirming its hardline position, the IRGC emphasized that the strait “cannot be reopened as long as the excessive rhetoric and threats by US officials and their interference in maritime movements in the region continue,” adding that such interventions would only “make the situation more difficult and more complicated.”
The defiant pronouncement comes as US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced a fresh wave of aggression against Iran on Thursday, launching overnight airstrikes that targeted several cities. The IRGC condemned the attacks, particularly highlighting a deadly strike on Qeshm Island that reportedly killed a two-year-old toddler along with his parents after their residential home was directly hit.
Tehran views the ongoing US military campaign which escalated in July following Washington’s alleged violation of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding as a breach of the accord intended to permanently end the previous US-Israeli war against Iran. The memorandum explicitly recognizes Iran’s sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz and stipulates Tehran’s responsibility for managing maritime traffic. However, the IRGC asserts that the US undermined the framework by attempting to establish an unsafe alternative corridor near Omani shores, a move that prompted Iran to re-impose stringent restrictions on vessels affiliated with aggressors and their backers.
In response to the southern strikes, Iran has launched extensive retaliatory offensives across the region. The Iranian Army and the IRGC have executed multiple waves of Operation Nasr 2 and Operation Sa’eqeh (Lightning), pounding US-run military installations in Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan, and the Iraqi Kurdistan region, signaling a significant expansion of the conflict beyond the immediate vicinity of the strategic chokepoint.
Source: Iranian media (translated and edited by Al-Manar)