Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has declared that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the United States halts what it described as its “acts of aggression.”
The announcement came as fighting between Iran and the United States, which reportedly began in late February, continued to disrupt oil and gas shipments through the strategic waterway.
In statements carried by Iranian state television, the IRGC said it had launched attacks on US military facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait in response to American strikes on Iranian territory.
The Guards warned that other regional oil and gas export routes serving the interests of Washington and its allies could also come under threat.
“The enemy should know that now that its maritime raiders have blocked the Indian Ocean route for oil and gas exports to the world — thereby endangering the interests of America’s economic rivals — it should also expect the closure of other oil and gas export routes that serve the interests of the United States and its allies,” the statement said.
The IRGC also declared, “Oil and gas exports from the region will either be available for everyone or for no one,” while giving no details about which additional routes could be affected.
In another statement, the Guards said, “The retaliatory operations of the fighters will continue, and the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the United States ends its acts of aggression.”
Meanwhile, US officials have rejected Iran’s claim that it can control navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, insisting that international shipping routes remain open despite the escalating conflict.
