Iran Threatens ‘Forceful Response’ To Ships Using Unapproved Routes In Strait Of Hormuz

Iran has warned ships sailing through the Strait of Hormuz that they must follow its approved navigation routes or risk an “immediate and forceful response” from its armed forces.

The warning was issued on Thursday, a day after Qatari mediators said indirect talks between the United States and Iran had made “positive progress” towards a peace agreement.

It also came after US Central Command (CENTCOM) held a security meeting in Bahrain, where regional military leaders reaffirmed their commitment to keeping commercial shipping moving freely through the Strait of Hormuz.

In a statement carried by Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency, the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said ships that fail to follow Iran’s designated navigation routes or ignore its navigation rules in the Strait of Hormuz would face military action.

“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 statement said.

Iran did not explain what prompted the warning.

After the statement, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi criticised CENTCOM’s role in Gulf security. In a post on X, he said security in the region could only be achieved by ending foreign intervention, withdrawing US forces, respecting the sovereignty of regional countries and accepting what he called “new geopolitical realities.”

“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,” he said.

The Strait of Hormuz, which handled about one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas trade before the conflict involving the United States, Iran and Israel began in late February, remains a key issue in the ongoing talks between Washington and Tehran.

Although Iran agreed in a memorandum of understanding signed with the United States on June 17 to make its “best efforts” to ensure the safe passage of ships through the strait, it has continued to warn vessels against using routes outside those it prefers near its coastline.

According to MarineTraffic, at least 49 attacks on commercial vessels have been recorded in the Strait of Hormuz since the conflict began on February 28.

Most of those incidents, including drone attacks on a Singapore-flagged cargo ship and a Panama-flagged merchant vessel, have been blamed on Tehran.

Ship traffic through the strait has increased since US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed the June 17 agreement, but it is still well below pre-conflict levels.

MarineTraffic data showed 45 vessels passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, up from 34 on Tuesday. Before the conflict, about 130 ships crossed the waterway each day.

Oil prices remained largely steady after reports of progress in the latest round of talks in Doha.

Brent crude futures for August delivery were trading at $72.07 per barrel at 02:30 GMT on Friday after falling below $71 the previous day for the first time since the conflict began.

References: Al Jazeera, Firstpost