Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters orders Strait of Hormuz closed to oil tankers

Iran just played one of the biggest cards in its geopolitical deck. The Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, the body that coordinates operations between Iran’s regular army and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, has ordered the Strait of Hormuz closed to oil tankers and ships.

The Strait of Hormuz is the narrow waterway between Iran and Oman that typically sees around 3,000 vessels pass through each month. During peak closure periods in 2026, that number reportedly dropped to near zero.

What the military is actually saying

The KCHQ confirmed strict military control over the strait on April 18, 2026. The KCHQ is Iran’s central nervous system for military coordination, the entity responsible for making sure the regular army (called the Artesh) and the IRGC are operating from the same playbook.

Commander Major General Pilot Ali Abdollahi made the stakes crystal clear. Foreign forces, particularly those associated with the US, would face attack if they approached or entered the strait.

These moves came amid escalating tensions driven by a US naval blockade affecting Iranian ports. Iran has threatened to close the strait during virtually every major geopolitical confrontation since the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s.

Why a narrow waterway moves global markets

The Strait of Hormuz is roughly 21 miles wide at its narrowest point. Oil prices have surged on the back of the closure orders, with some forecasts suggesting crude could push into triple-digit territory if tensions escalate further.

Extended closures would force rerouting around the Cape of Good Hope, adding weeks and significant cost to global supply chains.

Crypto feels the tremors

Bitcoin dipped to approximately $63,000 during the related geopolitical escalations. Higher energy costs raise the operational expenses for Bitcoin miners, compressing margins and potentially forcing some operations offline.

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