Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has issued a formal statement reaffirming the closure of the Strait of Hormuz to Israel-linked shipping and all its supporters, declaring itself released from any previous understandings on maritime access. The statement, published Saturday night, blames the U.S. and Israel for continued aggression in Lebanon and warns that any attempt to breach the closure will be met with force. The IRGC places full responsibility on Israel and the U.S. for consequences.
The IRGC escalated its maritime threats at 23:44 Jerusalem on Saturday, issuing a formal statement that not only reaffirms the closure of the Strait of Hormuz to Israel-linked shipping but also claims a blanket release from all prior maritime commitments and understandings. This new claim expands on the IRGC's earlier declarations: at 23:16 Jerusalem, the IRGC first announced the closure and threatened force, while an Iranian source separately clarified that parallel talks in Switzerland were not part of official negotiations.
The evolution of the IRGC's messaging has been rapid. At 17:53 Jerusalem, The Zioneer reported Iran threatening missile retaliation alongside the Hormuz closure. By 23:16 Jerusalem, the IRGC's first statement made the closure explicit and threatened force; a second, nearly simultaneous statement tied the closure to a release from all maritime understandings and linked the move to Israeli strikes on Lebanon. The U.S. disputed the operational reality of any blockade at 23:19 Jerusalem, citing no evidence of disruption. The IRGC's latest statement at 23:44 Jerusalem appears to reject that U.S. assessment, asserting a unilateral closure backed by a threat of force.
As The Zioneer reported earlier Saturday, the IRGC has framed the closure as a response to 'international silence' and continued Israeli military operations in Lebanon, which it terms 'aggression.' The broader context includes prior Iranian threats: on Friday, June 19, Iran linked the Hormuz reopening to a full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon and a U.S. regional withdrawal; on Wednesday, June 10, the IRGC declared the strait closed following reported U.S. strikes on coastal sites.
No independent confirmation of an actual naval blockade or disruption of shipping has been reported as of this bulletin. The IRGC's claim of a full release from all maritime commitments remains an assertion, not yet verified by other sources or reflected in the operational status of the strait.
6 developments
- DevelopingUS Navy warns IRGC vessels in Persian: 'halt or we attack' near Strait of Hormuz
- StrongIran tightens Strait of Hormuz transit rules: mandatory insurance, threat of IRGC Navy sanctions
- StrongIRGC Navy issues 'severe danger' warning to all vessels in Strait of Hormuz
- DevelopingIRGC turns ships back in Strait of Hormuz, analyst suggests mine avoidance
Source and signal
- Internal intake