Over past 24 hours 35 commercial vessels pass through Strait of Hormuz — IRGC

Lead

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said that at least 35 vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz over the past 24 hours, all having received clearance and security coordination from the IRGC's naval forces. The announcement, reported by TASS, follows the IRGC's establishment of a safe maritime route for shipping and global trade despite ongoing regional tensions.

Coverage Comparison

TASS, the Russian state news agency, reported the statement from the IRGC's press service. One TASS article, dated May 22, cited the IRGC as saying 35 vessels—including oil tankers, container ships, and other commercial vessels—passed through the strait after receiving clearance. Two other TASS articles provided similar but differing figures: one reported 26 commercial vessels transiting in the past 24 hours, while the other focused on the release of a map by Iran's Persian Gulf Surveillance Agency (PGSA) defining the maritime zone controlled by the IRGC.

The numbers vary between reports: the May 20 and May 21 accounts mention 26 vessels, whereas the May 22 account states at least 35. Neither count has been independently confirmed, and the discrepancy likely stems from different reporting periods or vessel classifications.

Key Claims

• Vessel transit numbers: The IRGC claims 26 or 35 vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz within a 24-hour period, all coordinated and secured by the IRGC's naval forces. The figures appear in different TASS reports, with the higher number from the most recent dispatch.

• Safe maritime route: The IRGC stated it has established a safe maritime route for shipping and global trade, despite regional tensions in the Persian Gulf.

• PGSA jurisdiction map: Iran's Persian Gulf Surveillance Agency published a map defining its jurisdiction over the Strait of Hormuz, delineating the area from Kuh-e Mobarak in Iran to southern Fujairah in the UAE on the eastern side, and from Qeshm Island to Umm Al Quwain on the western side. The agency said ships may pass through Iranian-controlled waters only with permission from the PGSA.

• Closure to certain vessels: Iranian authorities decided to close the Strait of Hormuz to vessels associated with the United States, Israel, and countries that supported actions against the Islamic Republic.

• Context of military operations: TASS reports that on February 28, the US and Israel launched military operations against Iran, with attacks on major Iranian cities. The IRGC announced a large-scale retaliatory operation against Israel, and US military facilities in Bahrain, Jordan, Iraq, Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia were also targeted.

Perspectives

The IRGC and the PGSA, both Iranian entities, present the current situation as a carefully managed response to external aggression. They emphasize that commercial shipping continues to operate through the strait under Iranian coordination, underscoring their role as a stabilizing force for global trade despite the ongoing conflict. The reports also convey Iran's assertion of sovereign control over the strait, with vessels required to obtain permission from the PGSA to transit Iranian-controlled waters.