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Published fact-check

IRGC Defies Iranian Foreign Minister, Maintains Strait of Hormuz Closure

Claim checked

“Iran's Foreign Minister Araghchi: "The Strait of Hormuz is declared completely open." IRGC Navy: "The Strait of Hormuz is closed. We will open it by the order of Khamenei, not by the tweet of some idiot" IRGC is running the show. Ghalibaf and Araghchi are useful idiots. _”

Published April 18, 2026 at 10:49 PM

Verdict

Supported

Reports from April 18, 2026, confirm a major public rift within the Iranian leadership regarding the Strait of Hormuz. While Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced the waterway was "completely open" following a Lebanon ceasefire, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy immediately overrode him.

In a maritime broadcast, the IRGC reportedly labeled the Foreign Minister an "idiot" and asserted that the Strait would only open by the direct order of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. This internal conflict caused significant volatility in global oil markets and highlighted the IRGC's dominant role in Iran's strategic military decisions.

5 reviewed sources behind this verdict.

Reasoning

The claims are supported by multiple reports detailing the timeline of events on April 17 and 18, 2026.

Araghchi's Declaration: On April 17, Foreign Minister Araghchi posted on X that the Strait was open for commercial vessels. This was initially reported by major outlets like Al Jazeera and CNBC.

IRGC Rebuttal: Within 24 hours, the IRGC Navy issued a counter-statement via Tasnim News Agency and a VHF maritime broadcast. They explicitly stated the Strait remained under "strict management and control" and dismissed Araghchi's announcement.

The "Idiot" Quote: Maritime intelligence monitors and news reports (such as International Business Times) confirmed that the IRGC Navy broadcast on Channel 16 specifically stated the opening would happen by Khamenei's order, "not by the tweets of some idiot."

Ghalibaf's Role: Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, a former IRGC commander, supported the military's stance, publicly rebuking the Foreign Ministry by stating that the status of the Strait is determined by "the field, not by social media."

Source quality: The report is supported by detailed accounts from multiple sources, including maritime intelligence, state-aligned media (Tasnim, Fars), and international news outlets, all providing consistent quotes and timelines.

Key checks

  • Araghchi's announcement of the Strait's opening: On April 17, 2026, FM Araghchi declared the Strait of Hormuz 'completely open' for commercial vessels on X, linking it to a Lebanon ceasefire.

  • IRGC Navy's 'idiot' broadcast and reversal: The IRGC Navy broadcast a message on maritime Channel 16 stating the Strait remained closed and would only open by Khamenei's order, calling Araghchi an 'idiot' for his tweet.

  • Ghalibaf's alignment with the IRGC: Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf explicitly backed the IRGC, stating that 'the field' (military) determines the Strait's status, not social media posts.

Confidence

High