Iran has issued a warning to all oil tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz to strictly comply with the maritime route set by the Iranian government. Otherwise, they will face immediate and severe retaliation from the Iranian military.
The statement was released on Thursday by the Joint Command Khatam al-Anbiya and broadcast on Iranian state television. It warned all oil tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz to strictly follow the route designated by the Iranian government, or face immediate strong military retaliation. This marks the latest sign that tensions in the Strait of Hormuz remain high despite ongoing negotiations between Iran and the U.S. to end the conflict.
The statement said, "If the designated route is not followed, if vessels stray from the prescribed path, or disregard the Islamic Republic of Iran's navigation regulations in the Strait of Hormuz, armed forces will respond immediately and forcefully, placing the safety of that vessel at risk."
Additionally, Iran warned that if U.S. forces intervene in controlling maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, they will face a swift and decisive response.
Although Iran did not explain the reason for this warning, the decision came shortly after the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) disclosed discussions with Middle Eastern allies in Bahrain, emphasizing their joint mission to maintain freedom of maritime trade through the Strait of Hormuz. Analysts view this rhetoric as a potential trigger for Iran's retaliatory statement.
The Strait of Hormuz is a key issue in negotiations between Iran and the U.S. Under a temporary agreement, both sides agreed vessels could pass through the strait without tolls for 60 days, but Iran insists on having authority to set maritime routes and plans to reinstate tolls in the future.
However, the U.S. and several Arab countries in the Persian Gulf reject this idea, affirming that navigation through the Strait of Hormuz must remain free under international law.
Despite previous attacks on commercial vessels, data from maritime analytics firm Lloyd's List Intelligence shows at least 258 ships passed through the Strait of Hormuz last week, up from 138 the week before. Nevertheless, traffic remains below pre-war levels, which averaged about 130 vessels per day.
Meanwhile, many shipping operators continue to assess the situation daily, deciding whether to comply with Iran's requirements or reroute closer to the Omani coast, which is under U.S. military surveillance.
At the same time, Iran is preparing an official funeral ceremony for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran, who passed away early in the war in February. The official mourning ceremony will begin this Saturday.
Tahir Andrabi, spokesperson for Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that the Iran-U.S. talks in Qatar on Wednesday made positive progress, and the next round of discussions is expected to take place immediately after the Supreme Leader's funeral.
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