Iran just played one of the biggest cards in its geopolitical deck. The Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, the body that coordinates operations between Iran’s regular army and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, has ordered the Strait of Hormuz closed to oil tankers and ships.
The Strait of Hormuz is the narrow waterway between Iran and Oman that typically sees around 3,000 vessels pass through each month. During peak closure periods in 2026, that number reportedly dropped to near zero.
What the military is actually saying
The KCHQ confirmed strict military control over the strait on April 18, 2026. The KCHQ is Iran’s central nervous system for military coordination, the entity responsible for making sure the regular army (called the Artesh) and the IRGC are operating from the same playbook.
Commander Major General Pilot Ali Abdollahi made the stakes crystal clear. Foreign forces, particularly those associated with the US, would face attack if they approached or entered the strait.
