Iran Claims Full Control of Hormuz Strait, Tightens Monitoring in Response to US Navy Blockade
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated that every movement in the Strait of Hormuz is under their total radar surveillance, following the official US naval blockade order by President Donald Trump which took effect Monday (April 13, 2026). In an official statement cited by AFP, the IRGC warned that approaching foreign military vessels will be dealt with strictly, while asserting that all ship traffic through the strait requires Iranian authorization. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf delivered a brief message: 'If you fight, we will fight.'
US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced the blockade began at 10:00 AM EDT (5:30 PM Iran time), aiming to halt Iranian oil exports via 'dark transit' routes, while still allowing commercial ships to head to non-Iranian ports. The impact of this tension immediately affected the global economy: US crude oil prices surged 8% to $104.24 per barrel, while shipping activity in the Strait of Hormuz plummeted from about 135 ships per day to just 40 since the ceasefire.
Amid the crisis, Trump escalated his response by criticizing Pope Leo XIV, who condemned the war and called for peaceful negotiations, calling the Catholic leader 'bad at foreign policy.' The failure of 21-hour negotiations in Islamabad, led by US Vice President JD Vance, has further narrowed diplomatic options, leaving warships locked onto each other’s targets in the Strait of Hormuz as a potential flashpoint that could erupt at any moment.
https://www.gelora.co/2026/04/