Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it has coordinated the passage of 26 vessels through the Strait of Hormuz in the past 24 hours. The statement, carried by Iran's state-run ISNA news agency, said: 'Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is being conducted with permission and coordination from the IRGC Navy.'
Before the US-Israel conflict with Iran erupted in late February, about one-fifth of global energy exports passed through the strait. Tehran subsequently imposed a blockade on the waterway, prompting US President Donald Trump to respond with a blockade of Iran's ports, tightening the country's key oil revenue stream.
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warned on April 16 that the blockade could trigger a global food price crisis within 6-12 months, calling it a 'systemic shock to agri-food systems.' The Rome-based FAO said the disruption is not just a transport or energy market issue but cascades through stages: energy, fertiliser, seeds, reduced yields, higher commodity prices, then food inflation.
On negotiations, Trump said on April 16 there had been 'progress' in talks with Iran but simultaneously threatened to resume military action if Tehran does not reach a deal. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded that 'returning to war will bring more surprises.' The IRGC also warned that if attacked, it would 'this time' expand the conflict beyond the region.
Will Todman, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), told Al Jazeera that both sides appear to believe prolonging the blockade will create more leverage to economically pressure the other.
