Iran's IRGC Affirms Strait of Hormuz Remains Closed to Unsafe Navigation

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) affirmed that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed as long as US threats to maritime navigation persist. In an official statement, the IRGC highlighted its naval forces' complete control over the strait, noting that they recently thwarted an attempt by two oil tankers to deviate from the safe route under US aerial instigation. Both vessels were forced to retreat rapidly after a fire broke out on one of them. The statement strongly rejected any foreign interference, warning of a swift and severe response against any aggressors and the nations assisting them, adding that provocative rhetoric and external meddling only complicate the regional situation.