IRGC asserts full control of Strait of Hormuz, rejects US claims of open passage

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) navy has asserted that it holds decisive control over the Strait of Hormuz, directly contradicting repeated statements from US officials that the critical waterway remains open to shipping.

The IRGC rejected Washington's characterisation of the strait's status, accusing US officials of continuing to misrepresent the situation. According to the Iranian naval force, these claims are being made to sway global oil prices and to conceal what it described as American failures in the region.

The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow passage between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, is a vital artery for global energy supplies, with a significant share of the world's crude oil passing through it. Any disruption or perceived threat to shipping there has immediate implications for international markets.

Meanwhile, former US President Donald Trump announced what he called the 'biggest oil deal in world history,' though details of the agreement were not immediately available. The announcement comes amid heightened tensions in the region, with both sides trading accusations over the strait's status.

The competing claims underscore the fragile security situation around one of the world's most strategically important chokepoints, as international observers watch for any escalation that could affect energy supplies and global stability.