Iran’s joint military command issued a warning Thursday, stating that all oil tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz must utilize designated routes or risk a "forceful response," thereby escalating tensions concerning this vital international energy passage.
The strait, which is the narrow entrance to the Persian Gulf, has become a significant point in discussions aimed at achieving a permanent resolution to the Iran war. The declaration from the Khatam al-Anbiya military command, as reported by Iranian state television, followed meetings between U.S. and Iranian diplomats with mediators in Qatar on Wednesday.
The specific trigger for Iran's threat was not immediately clear. However, a statement from the U.S. military’s Central Command regarding a meeting with officials from Middle Eastern nations in Bahrain noted that "leaders underscored their shared commitment to the free flow of commerce through the Strait of Hormuz."
This phrasing appeared to provoke Iran, which is preparing for the funeral beginning this weekend for the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who died during the initial moments of the war in February.
The Iranian statement specified that "Any failure to comply, deviation 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, endangering the security of the violating vessels."
Furthermore, it asserted that the ongoing presence of U.S. fighter jets over the strait "causes insecurity in this waterway and threatens regional security."
The Iranian warning also added: “Any attempt by the United States to interfere in security matters or any disruptive action in the Strait of Hormuz will be considered a threat to Iran’s national sovereignty and will be met with a rapid and decisive reaction.”
As part of an interim agreement, Iran and the United States had previously agreed to allow ships passage without fees for 60 days. However, Tehran insisted on controlling vessel routes and later imposing passage charges, which contradicts decades of practice in the waterway.
The U.S. and numerous Gulf Arab states have indicated they will not consent to these new charges. Tensions were highlighted last weekend when an initiative by Oman and a United Nations agency to establish a new route near Oman’s coast led to attacks across the Middle East.