Iran has declared a dramatic escalation in the long-running standoff over the world’s most vital oil chokepoint, announcing that the Strait of Hormuz is once again under the “strict management and control” of its armed forces.
In a blistering statement issued by Iran’s elite Khatam Al-Anbiyaa Headquarters, the Islamic Republic accused the United States of “piracy and banditry” disguised as a blockade, vowing to keep the strategic waterway locked down until Washington guarantees “complete freedom of movement” for Iranian vessels.
“Unfortunately, the Americans, with their repeated record of breaching promises, continue to engage in piracy and banditry under the guise of a so-called blockade,” the statement read.
“For this reason, control of the Strait of Hormuz has returned to its previous state.”
The announcement – which Tehran frames as a restoration of prior measures – threatens to choke off a passage through which roughly 20% of the world’s oil flows. While Iran has made similar threats in the past, the language from its top military command suggests an immediate and operational shift, raising alarms in global energy markets and Pentagon war rooms.
No timeline for release was given. Iran insisted the Strait will remain “strictly controlled” as long as the US fails to remove what Tehran calls an unlawful maritime embargo.
The White House has not yet issued an official response, but a senior defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told reporters: “Any interference with international navigation will be met with force. The Strait is not Iran’s to close.”
Shipping traffic in the region has reportedly slowed, with tanker operators scrambling for guidance. Oil prices spiked sharply in after-hours trading following the announcement.