WASHINGTON — Iran warned Sunday that military vessels approaching the Strait of Hormuz would be a violation of the fragile cease-fire and face a “strong and forceful response” — following President Trump’s announcement of a blockade on the critical oil chokepoint.
Trump announced plans earlier Sunday to stop “any and all Ships trying to enter, or leave” the waterway until there’s a point where all oil is allowed to go in and out without obstruction from Iran.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy hit back, insisting it has “full control” of the Strait and that the waterway remains open for non-military vessels.
Iran’s navy warned Sunday that military vessels approaching the Strait of Hormuz will face a “strong and forceful response,” AFP via Getty Images “Contrary to the false claims of certain enemy officials, the Strait of Hormuz is open for the passage of non-military vessels under smart control and management, in accordance with specific regulations,” the naval forces said in a statement, according to two semi-official Iranian news agencies.
The IRGC warned that any approach by military vessels toward the Strait would be treated as a violation of a cease-fire agreement.
Trump claimed that the cease-fire deal last week meant that Iran would allow the Strait of Hormuz, where over a fifth of the world’s seaborne oil supplies flow through annually, to be reopened.
A woman walks past a giant billboard reading ‘The Strait of Hormuz remains closed’ at the Revolution Square in Tehran on April 12, 2026. AFP via Getty Images But Iran has been accused of attempting to charge tolls on vessels going through and claimed that it lost track of the mines it laid down, scaring off ships from traversing the beleaguered waterway.
Despite Iran’s threats to view the deployment of a military vessel through the Strait as a violation of the cease-fire, the US claims that two American Navy destroyers went through it Saturday and took down an Iranian drone.
