IRGC
74 articles
Inside the Hormuz 'Arrangements' Dispute Stalling the US-Iran Halt
Iran's Foreign Minister blamed altered Hormuz arrangements, not the US strikes, for resumed hostilities — making the arrangements question the technical talks' core bottleneck.
The Halt Holds at Hour 18. Its Verification Tests Have Not.
Tehran has issued no on-record confirmation. No commercial tanker has transited Hormuz. The Oman working group has not spoken. What needs to move before Tuesday.
Tehran Has Not Confirmed the Halt: Why That Silence Matters
Iran's three public channels — Foreign Ministry, IRGC, and the Supreme Leader's office — must each move in the same direction before Tehran can confirm the halt on the record.
What 'Complete the Job' Means: Target Logic for a Third Iran Strike
Two CENTCOM packages failed to prevent IRGC missile salvos at two Gulf bases. A third round would need to address what the first two did not.
Iran's Official Silence Through Two Cycles Is Not an Accident
Through two complete US-Iran exchange cycles, Iran's government has neither acknowledged IRGC strikes on Kuwait and Bahrain nor spoken through the Oman back-channel.
Hormuz Dark: Oil Markets Face Structural Shift as Gulf Strikes Verified
With the UN corridor suspended and IRGC strikes verified at two US Gulf bases, oil markets face a structural risk repricing heading into Monday's open.
Kuwait, Bahrain Attribute Drone, Missile Strikes to Iran
Both Gulf host states have officially attributed the overnight drone and missile attacks to Iran, AP reported, closing the verification gap on the IRGC's earlier strike claims.
IRGC Claims Missile Strikes on US Forces in Kuwait, Bahrain
Iran's Revolutionary Guard says its navy and air force launched ballistic missiles and drones at US Army positions at Kuwait's Ali Al Salem base and at US forces in Bahrain.
Iran Chose Bahrain: The IRGC's Target Is a Signal About the Coalition
The IRGC had options after CENTCOM struck Iranian soil. It chose Bahrain — where the US 5th Fleet is headquartered. That target selection is a message aimed at every Gulf state hosting US forces, not just Washington.
Iran Breaks Silence: Drones Hit Bahrain, IRGC Claims Strike on US Forces
Bahrain reported a wave of Iranian drones early Saturday and Iran's IRGC said it targeted US military in the region — the first kinetic reply to overnight CENTCOM strikes on Iranian soil.
After CENTCOM Strikes, Iran Faces Three Paths Forward
US kinetic strikes on Iranian soil Friday night put Tehran under pressure to respond — militarily, diplomatically, or silently. Each path carries costs the Versailles framework has not priced.
The Strike No One Claimed: Attribution at the Center of Hormuz Diplomacy
An unattributed projectile struck an Evergreen cargo vessel Thursday in the Strait of Hormuz. Eight days in, the Versailles framework has no named mechanism for answering who fired it — and no process for building one.
Versailles Day Eight: Both Fronts Unresolved as Strike Goes Unattributed
The framework enters Day Eight with an unattributed Hormuz cargo ship strike and Lebanon's verification gap intact — both security tracks under simultaneous pressure for the first time.
Versailles Day Seven: Cargo Ship Strike Tests the Framework
A projectile struck a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz Thursday evening, halting the UN evacuation plan and putting the Versailles framework under its first concrete test.
IRGC Rejects New Hormuz Route, Demands Ship Authorization
Iran's Revolutionary Guards rejected a proposed alternative shipping route and warned vessels not to transit the strait without IRGC clearance, as Oman rules out transit fees and 57 ships move under a UN plan.
IRGC Closure at Day Six: A Non-Enforcement Record and Its Costs
Six days into the IRGC's Hormuz closure declaration, zero vessels have been interdicted. What changed between day three and day six — and what the record now costs the Versailles verification window.
IOC Tanker Tender Draws No Bids as Hormuz Risk Lingers Into Day Six
India's IOC found no takers for a Gulf crude charter through Hormuz on Tuesday — the week's starkest market signal from the IRGC's three-day closure declaration.
IRGC Enforcement Gap, Day Three: Oman as the Only Open Channel
Three days after Tehran's closure declaration, selective Hormuz enforcement has left shippers in limbo and Oman's working group as the sole active diplomatic channel.
The IRGC's Closure Declaration at Three Days: The Enforcement Gap
Iran's IRGC declared the Strait closed to all vessels Saturday. Three days on, tankers are transiting. No institutional actor has addressed what the gap means.
Hormuz: What an IRGC Declaration Does and Doesn't Do
A service-arm closure call is not an operational instrument. The gap between the IRGC's Saturday Hormuz declaration and Monday's freight tape is the diagnostic.
Closed on Paper, Open on the Tape: Reading IRGC's Hormuz Call
IRGC's Saturday Hormuz closure call has not yet been matched by physical interdiction. The gap between declaration and enforcement is where the next 72 hours live.
Past the Friday Window: Hormuz Quiet, Monday Tape in Focus
The IRGC's signaled Friday reopening for the Strait of Hormuz came and went without confirmation, denial, or incident. Saturday's silence sets the Monday open.
IRGC Silence, Not Versailles, Holds the Hormuz Reopening
Saudi Aramco's three supertankers crossed the Strait of Hormuz unchallenged Thursday. Iran's naval silence — not the Versailles signature — holds the Friday reopening.
Thursday Is the Tell Window for the Friday Hormuz and Geneva Tests
The Friday pledges live or die on what Thursday produces. A NAVCENT advisory, a Lloyd's follow-up, and a Swiss protocol note are the tells that convert deadline into fact.
What Tehran Has to Do Saturday for a Sunday Geneva Signing
A Sunday Geneva signing requires a specific set of Tehran statements over the next 24 hours. Who has to speak, who has to stay silent, and what each signal means.
UAE Paid Iran $3B–$10B to Halt Gulf Strikes, Reuters Reports
Abu Dhabi secretly paid Tehran billions to stop attacks on Emirati infrastructure even as it lobbied Washington to keep striking Iran, Reuters reports.
Iran Retaliates: IRGC Strikes US Bases in Bahrain and Jordan
Iran's Revolutionary Guard launched drones and missiles at the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain and a base in Jordan overnight, retaliating for US strikes near the Strait of Hormuz.
Qaani Declares Iran 'Security Belt' From Hormuz to Bab al-Mandab
IRGC-Quds Force chief Esmail Qaani has publicly lashed the Hormuz front to the Houthi Red Sea campaign under one Iranian doctrine. Washington should read it that way.
Israel, Iran Trade Overnight Strikes; IRGC Says It Hit Air Bases
Israel struck Iran's Mahshahr petrochemical complex and other targets in central and western Iran; the IRGC said it retaliated against Israeli air bases as interceptions lit up skies over Israel.
Iran Launches Missile Barrage at Israel After Beirut Strikes
IRGC fires missiles at Israel on day 100 of the war in response to Israeli strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs, as Israel closes Gaza crossings and vows to intensify operations in Lebanon.
State Approves $1.98B Counter-Drone Sale to Kuwait Hours Before Iranian Missile Strike
The State Department's approval of Roadrunner and Anvil counter-UAS interceptors for Kuwait landed within hours of Iran's seven-missile salvo at US bases in Kuwait and Bahrain.
Iran Fires Seven Ballistic Missiles at Kuwait and Bahrain
US Central Command says Iran launched seven ballistic missiles toward Gulf bases hours after US drone intercepts and strikes on Iranian radar sites near Qeshm Island.
CENTCOM Says US Shot Down Four Iranian Drones Near Strait of Hormuz
US forces intercepted four Iranian attack drones and struck Iranian radar sites overnight, threatening fragile ceasefire efforts and nuclear talks near the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran Sets Conditions for Accepting Trump Deal
Tehran demands 50 percent of frozen assets released upon signing any MoU with Washington, while the IRGC ties regional calm to Israeli withdrawal from occupied territories.
IRGC Says Opponents Must Adapt to 'New Rules' in Strait of Hormuz
Iran's Revolutionary Guard signaled a hardened posture over Strait of Hormuz transit Thursday, warning rivals to accept "new rules" as US-Iran talks stall and a House war-powers vote rattles Washington.
Trump Weighs Ending Ceasefire if US Troops Are Killed in Iran
President Trump is considering abandoning the ceasefire with Iran if American military personnel are killed, while demanding Iran surrender its enriched uranium as a condition of any deal.
US Strikes Iran's Qeshm Island; Iran Retaliates Against Kuwait, Bahrain
The US military struck a communications tower on Iran's Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran retaliated with missiles and drones targeting Kuwait and Bahrain, triggering warning sirens across both Gulf states.
Trump Sends Iran Deal Back for Revisions as Oil Tops $94
Trump submitted a revised Iran proposal with stricter nuclear and Hormuz provisions as Brent crude topped $94 and the IRGC warned that cooperation with hostile forces near the strait would be treated as a security threat.
Iran Submits Counter-Amendments, Rejects Trump's Ceasefire Changes
Tehran formally countered U.S. revisions to a draft ceasefire memorandum, with an Iranian source warning Trump's proposed amendments should not be read as accepted.
Iran Reopens Strike-Hit Missile Bases as IRGC Hardens Tone
Tehran has restored access to most of the underground missile facilities targeted during this year's Israeli-US strikes, according to a new report, even as IRGC commanders harden their rhetoric and back-channel talks with Washington continue.
IRGC says it downed US MQ-1 drone over Persian Gulf as talks stall
Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed it shot down a US MQ-1 reconnaissance drone in the Persian Gulf overnight, hours after Trump told Fox News a deal is near.
Iran unveils 27 Rajab cruise-missile attack craft as US talks drift
Tehran rolled out a new high-speed naval attack craft armed with long-range cruise missiles even as Iranian officials say several major issues remain unresolved in talks with Washington.
Iran Parliament Moves to Codify Hormuz Claim as IRGC Warns Vessels
Tehran is set to vote on a domestic law formalizing Iranian management of the Strait of Hormuz, hours after Hegseth said the US blockade remains in place.
IRGC fires on Hormuz ships as Vance says US, Iran 'very close' to deal
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps opened fire on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz Friday morning, hours after Vice President JD Vance said Washington and Tehran are near a memorandum extending the 60-day ceasefire.
Iran Strike Hits Kuwait; Trump Threatens to Bomb Oman as GCC Condemns Tehran
Iran's retaliation campaign crossed into Kuwaiti territory as the GCC issued joint condemnation; hours later President Trump threatened military action against Oman, the principal US-Iran mediator.
IRGC Claims Retaliatory Strike on US Air Base After Bandar Abbas Attack
Iran's Revolutionary Guard says it struck a US air base at 4:50 AM local time in response to Washington's overnight strikes near Bandar Abbas, with oil up over 2% and Hormuz transits under fire.
IRGC Bars Vessels From 'Hostile Countries' From Strait of Hormuz
Iran's Revolutionary Guard moves from a coordination regime to an explicit ban list at Hormuz, with criteria for 'hostile' undisclosed and Gulf shippers already sailing dark.
Seoul Attributes Hormuz Tanker Attack to Iran
South Korea publicly assesses Iran was likely behind a recent strike on a vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, becoming the first non-US, non-Arab government to attribute the incident.
IRGC claims 25 ships crossed Hormuz under Iranian coordination
Iran's Revolutionary Guard says it shepherded 25 commercial vessels through the Strait — directly contradicting CENTCOM's account of who is governing the chokepoint.
Centcom Says US Forces Struck Inside Southern Iran in Self-Defense
Centcom spokesperson Tim Hawkins says US forces hit Iranian missile sites and mine-laying boats inside southern Iran, even as explosions are reported near Bandar Abbas.
Trump Calls Iran Deal 'Largely Negotiated' as Tehran Rejects Framing
Trump says a US-Iran deal is largely negotiated with the Strait of Hormuz reopening; Iran's foreign ministry calls his framing inconsistent with reality and the IRGC dismisses his comments outright.
Vahidi, the Interpol-Wanted IRGC Chief, Is Iran's Real Veto Player
Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi, sanctioned by the U.S. and on Interpol's Red Notice for the 1994 AMIA bombing, is now the hardliner driving Tehran's maximalist demands on any deal with Washington.
EU Parliament Votes 516-14 to Demand Broader Iran Sanctions
Strasbourg lawmakers passed a sweeping non-binding resolution Thursday urging EU Council action on the IRGC, Iran's judiciary and prison officials, raising the political floor for any nuclear deal.
Iran Declares Hormuz Authorisation Zone Hours After Trump Cites 'Final Stages'
Tehran's Persian Gulf Strait Authority published map coordinates for a controlled maritime zone requiring transit authorisation, hours after the US president said talks were in final stages.
Trump Says He Called Off Iran Attack at Gulf States' Request
President Trump announced Tuesday he held off a planned attack on Iran after Gulf state allies asked him to stand down, citing "serious negotiations" now under way.
G7 Sanctions Push Collides With Iran's Enrichment Red Line
The US Treasury Secretary is pressing G7 allies to adopt Washington-led sanctions on Iran as Tehran insists nuclear enrichment rights are non-negotiable, deepening the diplomatic impasse on Day 80 of the war.
U.S. Ammo Flights Land in Israel as Military Prepares for Iran
Israeli media report dozens of US cargo aircraft delivered ammunition to Tel Aviv from Germany; Israel's military is said to be preparing to join any new US strikes on Iran's nuclear program.
Iran To Reveal Hormuz Tolls Plan As Trump Warns of 'Very Bad Time'
Tehran says it will soon publish a transit-fee plan for the Strait of Hormuz; Trump warns of consequences as Seoul opposes and Beijing stays silent.
Iran Eases Hormuz Blockade as Talks Signals Emerge
Iran's Revolutionary Guards are allowing more ships through the Strait of Hormuz, state TV reported, the first partial easing since the blockade began after US-Israeli strikes.
Iran Retains 70% of Missile Stockpile, ISW Warns of Rebuilt War Capacity
ISW assessed that Iran has restored access to 30 of 33 Hormuz-region missile sites and retains roughly 70% of its pre-war stockpile, as IRGC launches major exercises and rejects the US peace plan as surrender.
IRGC Stages 'Martyr Commander' War Drills Near Tehran
Iran's Revolutionary Guards launched a five-day 'Martyr Commander' exercise near Tehran as ISW warns 70% of Iran's pre-war missile stockpile and 30 of 33 Hormuz sites remain operational.
Kuwait Summons Iran Envoy Over IRGC Bubiyan Island Incursion
Kuwait formally protested to Iran after four IRGC commandos were captured on Bubiyan Island on May 3, invoking Article 51 of the UN Charter as Gulf states rallied in solidarity.
Trump Weighs Resuming Combat as Iran Ceasefire Hangs by Thread
Trump is more seriously considering resuming combat operations after Iran's ceasefire counterproposal — demanding reparations and Hormuz sovereignty — was rejected as garbage.
US Sanctions 12 Entities Routing Iranian Oil to China
Treasury designates 12 front companies across Hong Kong, UAE, and Oman as Bessent links Beijing's energy purchases to Iranian terrorism financing.
Qatar LNG Tanker Clears Hormuz in Wartime First, Hours Before Strike off Doha
Iran ran two parallel signals Sunday — clearing the QatarEnergy carrier Al Kharaitiyat for Pakistan under a Pakistan-mediated deal, then striking a UAE-flagged bulker northeast of Doha.
Bahrain Arrests 41 IRGC-Linked Suspects as Ceasefire Holds
Bahrain detained 41 individuals tied to Iran's IRGC while Washington awaits Tehran's formal response to a U.S.-drafted ceasefire memorandum of understanding.
Iran Launches Hormuz Toll Agency, Charges $2M Per Ship
Iran's new Persian Gulf Strait Authority demands up to $2M per vessel to transit Hormuz, forcing shipping operators into a legal collision with U.S. secondary sanctions.
Iran Demands Hormuz Permits as Trump Pauses Naval Escorts
Tehran's new Persian Gulf Strait Authority requires foreign ships to obtain transit permits before entering the strait, directly challenging the US position that Hormuz is international waters.
IRGC Warns of 'Long, Painful Strikes' on US Gulf Positions
A senior IRGC official threatened sustained retaliation against US Gulf-region bases if Washington launches new strikes, hours after Trump was briefed on three military options against Iran.
14 IRGC Personnel Killed in Zanjan Ordnance Blast
An explosion during an IRGC demolition operation in Zanjan province killed 14 personnel and wounded two, the largest single-incident toll since the April 7 ceasefire.
OFAC Warns: Paying Iran's Hormuz Crypto Toll Triggers Sanctions
Treasury's OFAC issued a May 1 alert warning that any payment to Iran for Hormuz transit — fiat, crypto, stablecoins, or informal swaps — exposes both US and non-US persons to sanctions.
GCC Leaders Demand Permanent Hormuz Settlement at Jeddah Summit
Gulf Cooperation Council heads of state met in Jeddah for their first in-person summit since the war began, calling for a permanent Hormuz navigation agreement as Iran's latest proposal was rejected by the US.
The IRGC and the Quds Force: who they are, what they do, why they matter
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its expeditionary arm are the actual operating engines of Iranian foreign policy. Here's the structure, the doctrine, and why understanding the IRGC matters more than tracking Iran's diplomatic statements.
What is Hezbollah? An explainer for readers new to Lebanon
The Iranian-allied Lebanese militia that's also a political party, social services network, and the largest non-state military force in the Middle East. The structure, capabilities, and the Iran relationship.