Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has declared that the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz will remain blocked until the United States ceases its “acts of aggression” in the region. The warning marks a severe escalation in a conflict that has disrupted global energy supplies since late February.
Retaliatory Strikes and Threats to Global Shipping Lanes
In a statement broadcast by Iranian state television, the IRGC confirmed it had launched strikes against American military infrastructure in Bahrain and Kuwait. These actions were described as direct retaliation for recent US military strikes on Iranian territory.
The IRGC also warned that other critical maritime trade routes could face disruption if the standoff continues. “The enemy should know that now that its maritime raiders have blocked the Indian Ocean route for oil and gas exports… it should also expect the closure of other oil and gas export routes,” the statement warned. The Guards emphasized an uncompromising stance, asserting that regional energy exports will “either be available for everyone or for no one.”
Peace Efforts Unravel Amid Renewed US Blockade
The latest hostilities erupted hours after US President Donald Trump backtracked on a controversial proposal to impose a 20 percent toll on vessels traversing the strait. Despite dropping the tariff plan, the US military reimposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports, prompting Tehran to retaliate against Washington’s regional allies.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi warned that Washington’s decision to restore naval restrictions has effectively “dismantled the Islamabad memorandum.” The memorandum was an interim peace agreement signed last month intended to pause military actions and foster diplomatic negotiations.
Global Energy Security at Risk
While US officials continue to reject Tehran’s claims of control over the Strait of Hormuz, insisting that international shipping lanes will remain open, the ongoing military friction has rattled global markets. The threat of prolonged closures in the Gulf which handles a significant portion of the world’s petroleum transit continues to push global energy prices upward, raising fears of a broader economic shock.