Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) Navy has enforced a strict blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, turning back three container ships on Friday morning and declaring the vital waterway off-limits to vessels connected to its “Zionist-American enemies.”
The IRGC announced the action on its Sepah News website, framing it as a direct rebuke to US President Donald Trump’s Thursday claim that Iran had allowed 10 oil tankers to pass as a “goodwill gesture” toward peace talks. “Following the lies of the corrupt US president claiming the Strait of Hormuz was open, three container ships of different nationalities were turned back after a warning from the IRGC Navy,” the statement read. It further prohibited “the movement of any vessel ‘to and from’ ports of origin belonging to allies and supporters of the Zionist-American enemies, to any destination and through any corridor.”
Energy intelligence firm Kpler confirmed two of the vessels belonged to China’s COSCO shipping line, marking the first major carrier attempt to cross since the war erupted on February 28, 2026, triggered by US and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets. Analyst Rebecca Gerdes noted the ships had lingered in the Gulf throughout the conflict, with satellite data showing them reversing course after approaching the strait off Iran’s southern coast.
Recent online reports from Reuters and Al Jazeera corroborate the incident, highlighting heightened naval patrols. The IRGC’s move aligns with Iran’s escalation strategy amid the ongoing war, now in its first month, which has disrupted 20% of global oil flows through the strait— a chokepoint for 21 million barrels daily, per the US Energy Information Administration. Bloomberg data shows oil prices spiking 5% to $92 per barrel on Friday, fueled by fears of prolonged closure.
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Trump’s assertion of tanker passages remains unverified by independent sources, with Iranian state media dismissing it as propaganda. No injuries or seizures were reported in the turn-back, but the incident underscores Iran’s resolve to weaponize the strait, a tactic reminiscent of 2019 tanker attacks during prior US-Iran frictions.
As negotiations stall, shipping giants like Maersk have rerouted vessels around Africa, adding weeks to journeys and billions in costs. Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia, have boosted alternative exports via the Red Sea, but experts warn of broader supply chain chaos if the blockade holds.
