Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is Iran's elite military force, currently at the forefront of escalating tensions and direct confrontations with the United States in the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding waters. Recent news highlights the IRGC's involvement in a series of tit-for-tat attacks on oil tankers and naval assets. Iran claims to have attacked multiple ships, including US-linked vessels and oil tankers, in retaliation for US strikes that reportedly destroyed Iranian tankers. The IRGC has also been implicated in launching ballistic missiles towards Jordanian assets hosting US personnel and in the capture of a US unmanned submersible. These actions have significantly impacted global oil prices, pushing them over $100 a barrel due to concerns about supply disruptions. The ongoing "tanker war" signifies a critical phase in the prolonged conflict between the US and Iran, with both sides attempting to exert control over the strategic Strait of Hormuz.