- By Shubham Bajpai
- Thu, 05 Mar 2026 09:14 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
In a major hope for India's oil requirements, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Thursday stated that the Strait of Hormuz is closed exclusively to vessels from Israel, Europe, the United States and their allies.
The IRGC made the announcement on the state broadcaster IRIB. The development is crucial for India too, as the world's 20 per cent crude and natural gas passes through it.
Around 5.5 million barrels per day of crude that India imports, almost 2 million barrels via the Strait of Hormuz. In the state broadcast, the IRGC said that it had already made its stance clear, in line with international law and relevant resolutions, under which the Islamic Republic reserves the right to regulate passage through the choke point during wartime.
In a strict warning, the IRGC added that any vessel of the US, Israel, Europe, and their supporters" spotted in the waterway "will certainly be hit.
According to IRIB, the Revolutionary Guards said, "We had previously said that, based on international laws and resolutions, in times of war, the Islamic Republic of Iran will have the right to control the passage through the Strait of Hormuz."
The Strait has been closed since Saturday, when the US and Israel launched their first hit at Iran. The escalation led to a sharp rise in crude oil prices. Apart from the price rise, concerns of global supply and subsequent economic disruptions were also great.
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IRGC's statement has come as a big relief for the world, especially Asian nations, which are mostly dependent on the Middle East oil and gas.
Earlier on Tuesday, Iran hinted that it would grant permission to only Chinese-flagged and Russian vessels to use the strait. The Iranian officials described it as a gesture of appreciation towards Beijing and Moscow for standing in solidarity with Tehran since the Middle East conflict started.