Tehran (TDI): Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has declared that it now has “complete control” over the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial global shipping route for oil and gas exports.
In a statement, Guards Navy official Mohammad Akbarzadeh said the strategic waterway is under the full authority of Iran’s naval forces. He warned that vessels attempting to pass through the strait could face risks from missiles or stray drones.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important energy chokepoints, linking the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. A significant portion of global oil shipments passes through the narrow corridor.
Despite the heightened tensions, Reuters reported that an oil tanker, identified as Pola, successfully transited the strait in what was described as a rare voyage since the conflict disrupted Gulf shipping. The vessel switched off its AIS tracking system on March 2 while approaching the strait and later reappeared off Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.
The tanker is reportedly heading to Jebel Dhanna port in the United Arab Emirates to load Abu Dhabi’s Murban crude destined for Thailand.
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Separately, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards announced they had launched approximately 40 missiles at American and Israeli targets as part of what they described as the 17th wave of “Operation Honest Promise 4.” The statement, broadcast on state television, did not provide specific details about the targets or damage.
Missiles launched from Iran triggered air raid sirens across large areas of Israel, including Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. The Israeli military said its defense systems were actively intercepting the incoming threats. The alert was lifted after several minutes, with no immediate reports of direct impacts.
Israel’s emergency medical service, Magen David Adom, said it had not received reports of casualties following the missile alerts.
Meanwhile, a drone was shot down near Baghdad International Airport, according to two Iraqi security sources. No casualties or material damage were reported. The airport complex includes a military installation that hosts a US diplomatic facility and previously accommodated US-led coalition forces.
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In Lebanon, state media reported that four people were killed and six wounded in an Israeli air strike on a building in Baalbek, in the country’s east. Lebanon’s National News Agency said rescue operations were ongoing to search for survivors under the rubble.
The developments mark a further escalation in a widening regional conflict that has increasingly drawn in multiple countries across the Middle East.
