Iran claims it coordinated passage of 26 vessels out of Hormuz in 24 hours | US-Israel war on Iran News
Iran’s IRGC Claims Control Over Strait of Hormuz Amid U.S. Blockade
Published May 20, 2026
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that it has facilitated the passage of 26 vessels through the Strait of Hormuz in the past 24 hours. This development comes as discussions between Washington and Tehran regarding the resumption of maritime traffic remain unresolved.
In a statement reported by the state-affiliated ISNA news agency, the IRGC emphasized that all transit activities in the strait are conducted with permission and coordination from the IRGC Navy.
Historically, the Strait of Hormuz has been a crucial corridor for global energy exports; prior to the onset of hostilities in the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran on February 28, nearly a fifth of these exports passed through the strait. Following the outbreak of the conflict, Iran implemented a blockade of the waterway.
In response, the administration of former President Donald Trump imposed restrictions on Iranian ports, significantly hampering the nation’s oil exports, which are a vital source of revenue.
The ongoing tensions have led to considerable strain on global energy markets, raising alarms about a potential humanitarian crisis. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations warned Wednesday that the blockade could instigate a severe global food price crisis within the next six to twelve months, describing the situation as “the beginning of a systemic agrifood shock.”
The Rome-based agency cautioned that the disruption transcends mere shipping or energy-market issues, indicating that the shock is affecting global agrifood systems in stages. “The shock is unfolding in stages: energy, fertilizer, seeds, lower yields, commodity price increases, then food inflation,” the FAO stated.
Amid these developments, President Trump spoke of “progress” in negotiations with Iran, but also issued a warning that military action could resume if a deal is not reached.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi cautioned that a return to conflict would bring “many more surprises.” The IRGC also indicated that any renewed attack on Iran would broaden the conflict beyond the immediate region.
Will Todman, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, pointed out that both parties seem to believe that prolonging their respective blockades will enhance their negotiating leverage. “It’s very difficult to see something that will fundamentally change the calculation,” Todman commented, emphasizing that both sides may believe their adversaries will suffer increasingly due to ongoing economic pressures.
