Trump to Deploy an Armada to the Strait of Hormuz, IRGC: Come and Guard Them

TEHRAN — Escalation in the Gulf continues to rise after the outbreak of Iran’s war with the United States-Israel. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran announced it has taken full control of the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday (4/3/2026). Tehran issued a stern warning that no warships are permitted to approach within a radius of 800 miles (about 1,287 km) from Iran’s territorial waters. IRGC Naval Force political adviser Mohammad Akbarzadeh told Fars News Agency that the world’s most strategic oil transit route is now under the full authority of its troops. “The Strait of Hormuz is now under the full control of the IRGC’s naval forces,” he said, as reported by Al Mayadeen, on Wednesday (4/3/2026). This statement came as a direct response to claims by US President Donald Trump that the US Navy is prepared to escort oil tankers through the strait. A senior IRGC commander openly challenged Trump to prove his statement. “Now is the time to escort ships, so come and escort them,” the commander said in an interview with Mizan media. He also mocked Trump by saying the US President would not be able to send his fleet to rescue those stranded in the Gulf. Total oil blockade Brigadier General Ebrahim Jabbari, adviser to the IRGC commander, issued an even more extreme warning about global energy security. He stressed that Iran would block all shipments through that waterway as part of Operation True Promise 4. “Every ship trying to pass through the Strait of Hormuz will burn. Not a single drop of oil will be allowed to exit this area,” Jabbari said.