Iran Claims Strait of Hormuz Open to Friends After China Pressure, Trump Navy Escort Offer
John Hayward5 Mar 2026154
Seemingly under intense pressure from China, Iran’s terrorist Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) modified its threats to close the vital Strait of Hormuz to worldwide oil shipping, claiming that it would only attack American, Israeli, and European ships.
Beijing nevertheless ordered its largest oil refiners to halt their exports of diesel and gasoline until further notice.
Iran has long threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz in the event of hostilities. The strait is a narrow passage between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, through which about a fifth of the world’s oil and liquified natural gas (LNG) flows.
The IRGC announced the strait was “closed” soon after the beginning of Operation Epic Fury and IRGC officials have threatened to “burn” any tanker that attempts to defy their blockade. As of Thursday, no international maritime authority has issued a formal notice of closure for the Strait of Hormuz, but dozens of ships are halted at either end or taking long routes around Africa to avoid the area.
https://www.breitbart.com/economy/2026/03/05/iran-claims-strait-of-hormuz-open-to-friends-after-china-pressure-trump-navy-escort-offer/
