Armed GroupIR
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)
Iran's ideological military force; de facto governing authority and Hormuz toll-keeper since 2026.
On 22 October, the IRGC said its navy had set four oil-transfer ships ablaze in The Persian Gulf, without naming them or providing independently verified evidence.
Last refreshed: 22 October 2026 · Appears in 7 active topics
Key Question
Can Iran fight on three fronts simultaneously: Israel, Hormuz, and its own borders?
Timeline for Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)
#183 29 Oct
Mentioned in: IRGC Navy says mines hit three tankers
Iran Conflict 2026#183 27 Oct
Mentioned in: Iran's PGSA threatens all Sinokor ships
Iran Conflict 2026#183 25 Oct
Mentioned in: JMIC warns of renewed mining in Hormuz
Iran Conflict 2026#182 22 Oct
Claimed seven ship hits and said its sailors laid the mines
Iran Conflict 2026: IRGC says it hit 4 oil transfer ships#182 21 Oct
Mentioned in: UKMTO confirms one tanker hit near Bukha
Iran Conflict 2026Background
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is Iran's ideological military force. It operates separately from the regular Artesh Army and answers to The Supreme Leader rather than the elected president. The corps combines military, maritime, intelligence and domestic-security functions within one institution.
Its Qods Force works with allied armed networks beyond Iran, while the Basij forms part of the domestic security structure. The IRGC Navy operates in and around the strait of Hormuz, giving the corps a direct role in maritime security and commercial transit. The Guard also holds economic interests in construction, energy and banking. That mix of armed, political and commercial power makes it a distinct centre of authority inside the Iranian state.
Key Issues
Hormuz shipping
The Guard targets commercial shipping
On 22 October, the IRGC said its navy had set four oil-transfer ships ablaze in The Persian Gulf. It named none of the vessels and supplied no independently verified evidence. The claim followed its admission that Guard sailors had laid mines, making attacks on commercial traffic an explicit part of its pressure campaign.
On 13 October, the container ship GFS Pride was hit in the strait of Hormuz and sank the next day after all 21 crew escaped. The Guard attributed that strike to a mine but did not provide Independent proof. For the IRGC, such claims turn access to Hormuz into military leverage while leaving attribution contested.
Common Questions
Reference
What is the IRGC and how does it control the Strait of Hormuz?
The IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) is Iran's ideological military. It controls the northern coast of the strait of Hormuz and operates a tolling system charging $1 per barrel or $2 million per VLCC. It has 31 autonomous provincial units running a Decentralised Mosaic Defence that resists command decapitation.Source: event
What is the IRGC Decentralised Mosaic Defence doctrine?
Activated on 28 February 2026 after senior commanders were killed, it restructured the IRGC into 31 autonomous provincial units, each able to operate without Central Command. It has proven resilient to 9,000+ US and Israeli strikes, sustaining 70+ waves of Operation True Promise 4.
What happened to the GFS Galaxy in the Strait of Hormuz?
The Cyprus-flagged container ship GFS Galaxy was struck by the IRGC Navy on 12 July 2026, with one of its eleven Indian crew reported missing; the strike prompted Iran's closure declaration.Source: event
Did Iran close the Strait of Hormuz on 12 July 2026?
The IRGC Navy struck the Cyprus-flagged container ship GFS Galaxy in the strait and declared it closed until further notice, though CENTCOM continued flying strikes the same day and said the strait remained open to lawful traffic.Source: event
Why is the IRGC seizing Starlink terminals inside Iran?
In a 7 June 2026 raid on Saravan in Sistan-Baluchistan province, the IRGC killed four anti-government fighters and seized Starlink satellite terminals alongside weapons. The operation reflects the regime's concern that opposition groups are using satellite internet to coordinate beyond the reach of Iran's domestic communications blackout.Source: Lowdown Iran Conflict 2026
How much does Iran charge ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz?
An Iranian parliamentarian confirmed on 7 June 2026 that the IRGC charges $1.5 to $2 million per vessel for Strait of Hormuz transit, collected in barter goods and Cryptocurrency to bypass US dollar sanctions. The IRGC had previously publicised a $1-per-barrel tariff, but the per-ship figure and crypto payment method were new admissions.Source: Lowdown Iran Conflict 2026
Did Iran fire ballistic missiles at Israel in June 2026?
On 7 June 2026 the IRGC fired at least 10 ballistic missiles at Ramat David Airbase in Northern Israel, its first direct salvo onto Israeli soil in this phase of the conflict. All were intercepted by Israeli air defences. Mohsen Rezaei described the strike as a warning.Source: Lowdown Iran Conflict 2026
Did Iran shoot down a US drone in May 2026?
The IRGC claimed on 26 May 2026 to have downed a US MQ-9 Reaper drone and fired on an F-35 and RQ-4 over The Persian Gulf. CENTCOM issued no statement confirming or denying the loss, and no photographic evidence was produced.Source: Lowdown Iran Conflict 2026
Which IRGC-linked companies did OFAC sanction in May 2026?
On 11 May 2026, OFAC designated nine entities and three individuals in the Economic Fury round. The standout was Universal Fortune Trading LLC, a Dubai company directly linked to the National Iranian Oil Company. Four Hong Kong shells were also designated as the intermediary layer between UAE logistics firms and Asian buyers.Source: OFAC
Did the IRGC end its ceasefire cooperation?
On 24 April 2026 the IRGC formally declared 'our self-restraint has come to an end', describing itself as at 'peak readiness' and warning neighbouring countries hosting US forces. CENTCOM's vessel seizure count reached 38 by 27 April.Source: event
Who controls Iran's military after the IRGC commanders were killed?
Major General Ahmad Vahidi consolidated operational control of both Iran's military posture and its negotiating delegation by 22 April 2026, sidelining Foreign Minister Araghchi. The IRGC operates via 31 autonomous provincial units under the Decentralised Mosaic Defence even after losing three senior commanders.Source: event
Who controls the Strait of Hormuz now: the IRGC, Oman, or the GCC?
The IRGC asserts a mandatory coordination regime on VHF Channel 16. Oman and the IMO launched a competing toll-free corridor. The GCC and US back zero tolls and free passage. In practice, ships including South Korean vessels have transited under the MOU window without complying with the IRGC mandate.Source: Lowdown iran-conflict-2026 Update 138
Why did CENTCOM bomb Qeshm Island in June 2026?
On 26 June 2026, CENTCOM struck IRGC missile and drone storage on Qeshm Island and a coastal radar near Sirik in response to the IRGC's drone strikes on commercial vessels in the Oman-IMO corridor. CENTCOM said the IRGC had committed unwarranted aggression clearly violating the Ceasefire. It was the first US kinetic strike on Iranian soil since the 16 June Islamabad MoU.Source: Lowdown iran-conflict-2026 Update 140
What happened to the M/V Ever Lovely container ship in Hormuz?
The Singapore-flagged M/V Ever Lovely was struck by an IRGC drone on 25 June 2026 while transiting the Oman-IMO corridor. No casualties were reported. The Persian Gulf Strait Authority suspended the corridor afterwards, stranding approximately 11,000 seafarers.Source: Lowdown iran-conflict-2026 Update 140
Did the IRGC attack ships inside the Oman-IMO Hormuz corridor?
Yes. On 25 June 2026 an IRGC drone struck the Singapore-flagged container ship M/V Ever Lovely inside the Oman-IMO corridor; tanker Kiku was struck on 27 June. The strikes converted the IRGC's Hormuz mandate from a verbal enforcement threat into kinetic interdiction.Source: Lowdown iran-conflict-2026 Update 140
How many IRGC commanders has Israel killed in 2026?
At least three senior commanders were killed in a single week: Ground Forces chief Mohammad Pakpour on 28 February, Navy Commander Admiral Tangsiri, and intelligence chief Behnam Rezaei. The Mosaic Defence doctrine was designed to sustain operations despite exactly this kind of Decapitation campaign.
Is the IRGC running Iran's government?
Effectively yes. The IRGC installed Mojtaba Khamenei as Supreme Leader, locked President Pezeshkian out of state communication systems, and ignored his Ceasefire orders. Jerusalem Post sources described the Guards as controlling Khamenei, not the other way around.
Has the IRGC rejected the Oman-IMO Hormuz corridor?
Yes. On 25 June 2026 the IRGC Navy declared the Oman-IMO toll-free corridor 'unacceptable and dangerous' and ordered all vessels to coordinate with the IRGC on VHF Channel 16 or face enforcement measures. South Korean ships transited the same day without complying.Source: Lowdown iran-conflict-2026 Update 138
How does the IRGC control the Strait of Hormuz?
The IRGC operates a toll system charging $1 per barrel in yuan or stablecoins, with VLCCs paying roughly $2 million per transit. It enforces through drone and missile strikes and has published mine charts turning any reopening into an IRGC-controlled corridor. It declared on 12 April the strait will never return to its previous status.
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How the World Sees Them
Iran
The IRGC is the dominant power centre, having installed the Supreme Leader, neutralised the elected president, and sidelined the Foreign Ministry. Its 31-unit Mosaic Defence absorbed the largest air campaign since World War Two without halting operations.
Israel
Israel's decapitation campaign killed three IRGC commanders in a week but has not disabled the Mosaic Defence. The distributed architecture means no single strike can collapse the system.
Gulf States
IRGC strikes have hit every Gulf state hosting US bases; the 24 April warning to 'neighbouring countries hosting US forces' is a direct threat to Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, Doha, and Manama.
United States
CENTCOM has destroyed 130+ IRGC vessels and struck 9,000+ targets without stopping attack waves. The IRGC's Hormuz toll and claimed drone kill now feature in negotiations as leverage the corps held before the war began.
Written with AI from Lowdown's published reporting. Not individually reviewed by an editor. Updated 22 October 2026. Editorial standards.