The Digester

Iran’s IRGC Says It Controls Strait of Hormuz as Attacks Disrupt Shipping

Mar 4th 2026

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said it now controls the Strait of Hormuz after fresh attacks on commercial ships near the waterway, raising concerns about further disruption to a key global oil corridor.

  • IRGC officials claimed this week that Iran has complete control of the Strait of Hormuz.
  • Maritime agencies reported two recent incidents: an explosion 137 nautical miles east of Muscat and debris striking a tanker near Fujairah.
  • No injuries or major damage were reported in the two incidents, and affected vessels continued sailing.
  • The strait normally carries about 20 million barrels per day, roughly a fifth of global oil flows.
  • Tanker movements through the Gulf have slowed and thousands of vessels are reported idle as operators assess risks.
  • Washington warned it could deploy naval escorts for tankers if the security situation deteriorates.

Sources

oilprice.com