IRGC Declares Control of Strait of Hormuz Restored to 'Former Status'

In a statement issued through the state broadcaster IRIB on Saturday, April 18, 2026, the IRGC’s joint military command asserted that this move is a direct response to the ongoing U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports.

The IRGC command accused the United States of engaging in "piracy and maritime theft" under the guise of an economic blockade. The statement warned that the heightened military control of the strait—which serves as the transit point for one-fifth of the world's total oil supply—will remain in effect until Washington restores "full freedom of navigation" for vessels traveling to and from Iran.

Military analysts view this escalation as a strategic counter-move to U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent ultimatum. On Friday, Trump warned that if a permanent deal is not signed by April 22, he would resume bombing campaigns and maintain the maritime cordon. By exerting control over the world’s most critical energy chokepoint, Tehran appears to be signaling its leverage over the global economy in the face of renewed military threats.

The global community, including NATO and international maritime authorities, is monitoring the situation with high alert. A complete or restricted closure of the Strait of Hormuz could trigger an immediate spike in global energy prices and disrupt supply chains already strained by the regional conflict. With the April 22 deadline approaching, the standoff in the Persian Gulf has now evolved into a direct military and economic confrontation that threatens to destabilize global markets.