Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) declared today that it has "total control" over the Strait of Hormuz - a strategic transit point for global oil trade at the entrance to the Persian Gulf, Agence France-Presse reported, BTA reported.
"Currently, the Strait of Hormuz is under the total control of the Islamic Republic's naval forces,“ said Mohammad Akbarzadeh, a senior commander in the Revolutionary Guards' naval forces, quoted by the Fars news agency.
US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that US Navy ships could escort oil tankers through the strait, “if necessary”, AFP reports.
On Saturday, the US and Israel launched a joint military operation against Iran, in response to which Tehran's forces launched strikes on Israeli territory and on US military bases in Persian Gulf countries.
Earlier today, the IRGC said it had hit a second US missile defense system Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) air defense system, the Iranian news agency IRNA reported.
The US-Israeli war against Iran is causing serious difficulties in oil and gas supplies, Reuters wrote in a summary of the main problems that have arisen since the beginning of the conflict.
Strait of Hormuz: Traffic through the strait remains closed for a fourth consecutive day after Iran attacked five ships and blocked the key artery through which about 20% of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas supplies pass.
Iran declares strait closed: A senior official from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said on Monday that the Strait of Hormuz remains closed and warned that Iran will shoot at any vessel that tries to pass.
War risk insurance canceled: Major marine insurers are canceling war risk coverage for ships sailing off Iran and in the Persian Gulf.