According to a statement released by the IRGC Navy on Saturday, the ships crossed the strategic waterway following authorization and with security provided by the force.

The statement added that the intelligent control of the Strait of Hormuz continues with full strength despite the insecurity created following the aggression of the "terrorist American army" in the strait.

Iran shut down the Strait of Hormuz to its enemies and their allies following the latest US-Israeli aggression against the country in February 2026.

According to a new report by Reuters, the IRGC plays a central role in a new multi-layered transit system that gives preference to ships linked to allies such as China and Russia, while other vessels may require government-to-government arrangements or payments to pass.

The IRGC reviews an affiliation document supplied by a ship owner or operator, and during the process, they may want to physically inspect the ship, the report said.

"The affiliation check is to identify if the vessel has any connection to the US or Israel," a European shipping source told Reuters.

The IRGC requires ship owners to disclose details including the value of the ship's cargo, the flag, its origin and destination, the registered owner and manager, and nationalities of the crew, according to documents sent to shipping industry sources by Iran's Persian Gulf Strait Authority.

The vetting is carried out by Iranian state institutions, including the Ports and Maritime Organization, the Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade, the national shipping organization, and the security overseer of the Supreme National Security Council, according to the report.

Ship owners' willingness to deal directly with Iran shows the degree to which the strait is under the Islamic Republic's control, Danny Citrinowicz, a former Israeli intelligence officer who specializes in Iran research and analysis, told Reuters.

Bilateral arrangements for passage include an additional step: Countries contact Iran's foreign minister to request permission. The minister forwards these to the Supreme National Security Council.

A decision is then made and communicated to the relevant bodies, including the IRGC, which then provides the coordinates and instructions needed for safe passage.

Other countries have worked out different arrangements. Among them is India, which imports about 90% of its oil needs and about 50% of its gas, much of which passes through Hormuz.

New Delhi uses its embassy in Tehran to liaise with Iranian authorities, including the IRGC and the Iranian navy, which vets ships India wants to sail out of the Persian Gulf, according to an Indian shipping ministry official cited by Reuters.