The Iranian Revolutionary Guards are maintaining their blockade of the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf.
The Guards command center said it was following an order from the new religious leader Moschtaba Khamenei, according to the affiliated Fars news agency.
All tankers and ships traveling in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz must comply with Iranian regulations for their own safety, it said.
According to their own statements, the Guards also want to continue their attacks against US and Israeli targets in the region “with full force”.
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has almost come to a standstill as a result of the Iran war. The approximately 55 kilometer wide strait between Iran and Oman is considered one of the most important shipping routes for global oil exports.
USA: No ship escort possible yet
According to Energy Secretary Chris Wright, the USA is currently not in a position to escort tankers through the Strait of Hormuz. The Navy will be able to do this relatively soon, but it is not possible right now, Wright told CNBC. “We’re just not ready yet.” All US military resources are currently aimed at destroying Iran’s offensive capabilities. Wright said he believes it is likely that the U.S. Navy will be able to escort some ships through the strait by the end of the month.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Sky News that he was convinced that the US Navy would do this as soon as militarily possible – “perhaps together with an international coalition”.
At the beginning of the month, US President Donald Trump offered to use his own navy to secure shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz – if necessary. By offering such an escort, his government is also trying to reassure global markets.
Trump also recently emphasized that he did not believe that Iran had mined the strait. Bessent now confirmed this and pointed out that Iranian tankers are currently passing through the Strait of Hormuz.