IRGC: Strait of Hormuz under strict Iranian military control

Istanbul (ANTARA) - The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated on Saturday that the Strait of Hormuz has returned to its “previous condition” under the control of the “armed forces”, referring to the ongoing United States (US) blockade of Iranian ports.

“Control over the Strait of Hormuz has returned to its previous condition, and that strategic waterway is now under the strict management and control of the armed forces,” said the IRGC joint command, as quoted by the Tasnim news agency.

The IRGC emphasised that until the US “fully restores freedom of movement for ships entering and exiting Iran”, the situation in the Strait of Hormuz will remain under strict supervision and unchanged.

The IRGC statement came after Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on Friday (17/4) that the Strait of Hormuz is “fully open” to all commercial vessels.

That decision was taken “in line with the ceasefire in Lebanon,” he said via the social media platform X.

On 28 February, the US and Israel launched a joint attack on Iran, which was later retaliated by Tehran with strikes on Israel and other countries in the region hosting US military assets, as a form of self-defence.

The war has been in a lull since 8 April, following Pakistan’s mediation of a two-week ceasefire.

Washington and Tehran have also held talks in Pakistan over the past weekend to pursue long-term peace, while efforts to hold follow-up meetings in Islamabad are still ongoing.

Source: Anadolu