Iran: Hormuz closed until US lifts blockade

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its commander Ahmad Vahidi have taken full control of Iran's military and its negotiating process in recent days, according to an analysis by the Institute for the Study of War. This consolidation of power by the hardline IRGC is reported to have directly led to Iran's decision to close the strategic Strait of Hormuz. The move represents a significant internal power shift, sidelining more moderate factions and centralizing authority within the revolutionary guard. The closure of the strait is a major escalation in the ongoing crisis with the United States, which has imposed a blockade on Iran.