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Iran Says Unconditional Passage Through Strait of Hormuz Is Over

Iran Says Unconditional Passage Through Strait of Hormuz Is Over

New claims add reported IRGC blocking action from April 18 and an Iraqi warning that a prolonged Strait of Hormuz disruption could halt nearly 4 million barrels of Iraqi crude exports within three days.

Fact Check
The core of the claim is that an unverified broadcast attributed to Iranian/IRGC forces said the Strait of Hormuz remained closed and ships needed permission to pass. Reuters coverage fetched from the provided shortlink reports maritime sources saying some merchant ships received a radio message that the strait was again closed and that no vessels were allowed to pass. Reuters' April 8 article, 'Shippers seek clarity on Hormuz passage as Iran issues fresh warnings | Reuters,' gives even closer wording: two tankers received a radio message saying transit was closed and permission from Iranian Sepah navy was required. Reuters' February 28 article, 'Iran's revolutionary guards tell ships passage through Strait of Hormuz 'not allowed', EU naval mission official says | Reuters,' further corroborates that vessels received such warnings attributed to Iran's Revolutionary Guards. The main uncertainty is attribution precision: Reuters presents these as reports from maritime sources or an EU naval official, not as a directly authenticated official IRGC communiqué. So the statement is likely true as a report of an unverified broadcast, but not fully proven as an officially confirmed IRGC announcement.
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Summary

Iran’s Strait of Hormuz dispute has expanded with new claims from both Iran and Iraq. An Iraqi oil ministry official said a closure of the strait could disrupt nearly 4 million barrels of Iraqi crude exports within three days, underscoring the potential impact on regional energy flows. Separately, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy said it began blocking the strait from the evening of April 18 in response to continued U.S. maritime restrictions on Iranian ports and ships. The new content adds an explicit estimate of Iraqi export exposure and a more specific operational claim from the IRGC Navy, further developing a topic that already included Iranian diplomatic, military, and maritime security statements about restricting passage through the chokepoint.

Terms & Concepts
  • Strait of Hormuz: A major maritime chokepoint linking the Persian Gulf to global sea routes, critical for regional shipping and energy transport.
  • Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy: The naval branch of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a military force separate from Iran’s regular armed forces and often involved in Gulf maritime operations.
  • crude exports: Shipments of unrefined oil sent to foreign buyers, a key measure of how maritime disruption can affect a country’s energy trade.