Iranupdated 1h ago2 min read
Archive photo · 17 October 2021IRGC Declares Strait Of Hormuz Closed After Strikes On Four Tankers
3 West Asian1 Other1 Western AlternativePhoto: MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC / US federal government, Public domain · Cropped for layout
This article is an automated aggregation of coverage from news outlets. Our editorials offer in-depth analysis curated by the NewsCord team.
IRGC declares Strait of Hormuz closed, warns violators risk engulfed in flames. Closure followed IRGC strikes on four tankers accused of unauthorized ship-to-ship transfers.
IRGC declares Hormuz closed
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps declared the Strait of Hormuz “closed” on October 26, warning that vessels violating its transit regulations “risk being engulfed in flames,” according to a statement carried by Tasnim News Agency. The IRGC’s declaration followed IRGC strikes on four tankers accused of conducting unauthorized ship-to-ship oil transfers in the northern Persian Gulf on October 22–23, and the announcement came as daily transits through the waterway fell from a pre-war baseline of 85 to four, according to IMF PortWatch data published on straits.live.
The compliance framework Iran built around its Persian Gulf Strait Authority required vessels to register, obtain transit clearance, and use an IRGC-approved corridor near Iran’s coast, with ships using the US-promoted southern lane designated non-compliant. Lloyd’s List Intelligence reported that the authority’s blacklist grew from 46 named vessels on August 24 to 124 by October 22, and the IRGC said the October 22–23 strikes were enforcement against “oil smuggling.”
Chief of staff threatens
Major General Abdollahi said the Strait of Hormuz is completely closed and that no violating vessel will be safe, rejecting US claims that the strategic waterway is open and free. Abdollahi said the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps' naval and ground forces have full control and surveillance over the coasts of the Persian Gulf, its islands and the Strait of Hormuz, and he warned that any movement in the area is under strict monitoring.
Abdollahi warned that any violating vessel that seeks to transit outside the designated route and Iranian arrangements for any reason will have its security endangered and will suffer serious damage. Breakingthenews.net carried Abdullahi’s warning that any vessel operating outside Iranian regulations in the Strait of Hormuz will "suffer serious consequences."
Control, surveillance, and consequences
The IRNA-linked report said Major General and pilot Ali Abdollahi visited the level of capability and readiness of the armed forces in the Persian Gulf region, the islands, the Strait of Hormuz, and the shores of the Oman Sea. The report quoted Abdollahi saying the naval and ground forces of the IRGC have complete control and supervision over the Persian Gulf coasts, the islands, and the Strait of Hormuz, and that any movement in this area is under serious supervision.
The report added that, contrary to marketing and media claims by American leaders about the Strait of Hormuz being open and free, the strategic waterway is completely closed and managed with the dominance and supervision of the powerful Navy of the IRGC. The same report stated that no vessel is permitted to transit in this strategic waterway outside Iranian arrangements, and it warned that any defiant vessel that seeks to travel outside the designated route and Iranian arrangements will jeopardize its security and suffer serious damage.
