Iran has warned ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz that they could face a forceful military response if they use routes Tehran has not approved, raising fresh questions over one of the world’s most sensitive energy corridors.
The warning was issued by Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters and came a day after Qatari mediators said indirect talks between US and Iranian officials had made “positive progress” toward a peace agreement.
“Any failure to comply with and depart from the designated route or disregard for the navigation protocols of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the Strait of Hormuz will be met with an immediate and forceful response from the armed forces, and will endanger the security of the offending vessels,” the military command said in a statement carried by Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency.
Tehran did not say what triggered the warning. It followed a US Central Command statement saying regional leaders had discussed maritime security in Bahrain and expressed support for the “free flow of commerce” through the strait.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi rejected that framing, saying the forum “cannot establish legal order and security for the Persian Gulf”.
“The region’s security will be ensured through the end of interventions and the US withdrawal from the area, respect for countries’ sovereignty, and acceptance of new geopolitical realities, not under the military umbrella of America,” Gharibabadi said in a post on X.
The Strait of Hormuz handled about one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas trade before the conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran began in late February. Since then, the waterway has become a core issue in efforts to turn a fragile ceasefire into a longer agreement.
Iran agreed in a June 17 memorandum of understanding with the US to make its “best efforts” to help arrange safe passage for ships. MarineTraffic data cited in the report recorded at least 49 attacks on commercial vessels in the strait since February 28.
Transit has improved since the June agreement but remains below pre-conflict levels. At least 45 vessels crossed the strait on Wednesday, up from 34 on Tuesday, while earlier daily crossings were around 130.
Brent futures for August delivery stood at $72.07 a barrel at 02:30 GMT on Friday, after falling below $71 the previous day on reports of progress in Doha.
