On Thursday, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) sent a stern warning, stating that any ships navigating the Strait of Hormuz without routes sanctioned by the Iranian regime would face undefined “dangers” in the area.
This warning follows a recent announcement from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the Omani government about a newly opened shipping route that avoids Iranian territorial waters, intended to facilitate the safe passage of commercial vessels. Although Iran’s private sector reached an agreement with the United States last week confirming that traffic in the strait would remain open for at least 60 days, the IRGC is pushing to obstruct this traffic. Just last Saturday, the Revolutionary Guards declared they had closed the strait to navigation, but this was mostly disregarded, with no significant reports of violence or disruptions.
After this attempt to close the strait, the Revolutionary Guards Navy reiterated on Thursday that ships should adhere only to routes recognized by the Iranian regime for entering and exiting the Strait of Hormuz.
“In a statement released early Thursday, the Revolutionary Guards Navy referred to the newly declared route as unacceptable and extremely hazardous, asserting that it was introduced without the awareness or coordination of Iranian officials,” the Islamic Republic News Agency noted. “The statement made it clear that the only permitted navigation channel was the one previously established by Iran.”
IRNA also cautioned that “vessels operating outside these designated shipping lanes are forbidden and may enter potentially risky areas.”
Media reports emphasized that the Revolutionary Guards’ statement addressed a “newly announced route” identified by the IMO and Oman, which does not include Iranian maritime territory. Additionally, the Guards insisted that all vessels must seek permission from Iranian authorities.
On June 23, Oman and the IMO unveiled a new maritime route through the Strait of Hormuz, which purposefully excludes Iran. This route will not require tolls and allows vessels to navigate the high seas without the risk of entering areas where the Revolutionary Guards are believed to have placed mines.
The IMO confirmed, “Ships have already begun operating according to the new guidelines,” as reported by NBC News on Wednesday.
On Wednesday, Oman’s Maritime Security Center released instructions for ships to maintain a safe distance from Iranian waters, indicating the proximity to Oman’s coast to avoid dangerous zones.
As of Thursday morning, reports suggested that the new corridor was operational. NBC News indicated that at least 20 vessels had successfully departed via the Omani route without issues, although three ships appeared to have turned back, likely due to the Revolutionary Guards’ threat. Observers counted 172 ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz between the signing of the memorandum of understanding between the U.S. and Iran last week and Tuesday’s announcement of the Oman route.
The memorandum establishes an indefinite ceasefire in hostilities between the U.S. and Iran, indicating that Iran will “make every effort to ensure the safe passage of commercial vessels from the Persian Gulf to the Sea of Oman and back, free of charge for a period of 60 days.”
“Commercial shipping will commence immediately and should happen within 30 days, contingent upon the removal of technical and military challenges and necessary demining by Iran,” the memorandum specified. It further stated, “Iran will engage in discussions with Oman to outline future maritime services in the Strait of Hormuz, in cooperation with other nations bordering the Persian Gulf, in compliance with relevant international law and sovereignty of the littoral states.”
While the Iranian private sector accepted these terms, the Revolutionary Guards swiftly attempted to re-establish their closure of the strait the following Saturday. Military leaders claimed that ships would “endanger their safety” by attempting entry, yet did not specify the risks involved. Reports from state-run Mail News Agency indicated that the Revolutionary Guards had once again declared the strait closed.
However, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) countered the Revolutionary Guards, asserting that the Strait of Hormuz remains open and that Iran has no jurisdiction over it. Subsequent reports noted that a vessel successfully traversed the strait that weekend without any incidents.
