IRGC says Strait of Hormuz under 'strict control' despite Iran's 'open' declaration
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps said the Strait of Hormuz has returned to its "previous state" under the control of its armed forces, despite Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi declaring the strait "completely open" for commercial vessels. The IRGC said the situation will remain strictly controlled until the US restores full freedom of movement.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) said in a Saturday statement that the Strait of Hormuz has returned to its "previous state" under the control of its "armed forces," citing the ongoing US blockade on Iranian ports. "Control over the Strait of Hormuz has returned to its previous state, and this strategic waterway is under the strict management and control of the armed forces," the IRGC joint command said, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency.
Condition for change
Until the US "restores full freedom of movement for vessels traveling to and from Iran, the situation in the Strait of Hormuz will remain strictly controlled and unchanged," it argued. The IRGC statement came after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Friday declared the strait "completely open" for all commercial vessels, a decision made "in line with the ceasefire in Lebanon," he said on X.
US blockade
The US has maintained a naval blockade on Iranian ports since April 13, with CENTCOM reporting that 21 vessels have been turned back. President Trump has said the blockade will "remain in full force" until a peace deal is signed, warning that the US will retrieve Iran's nuclear dust by force if no agreement is reached.
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Ceasefire context
On Feb. 28, the US and Israel launched a joint offensive on Iran, and Tehran retaliated with strikes on Israel and other regional countries hosting US assets. The war has been on hold since April 8, when Pakistan mediated a two-week ceasefire. Washington and Tehran held talks in Pakistan last weekend towards a lasting peace, and efforts for another session in Islamabad are underway. The two-week ceasefire is set to expire on April 22.
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