The joint military command of Iran issued a warning on Thursday regarding oil tankers navigating the Strait of Hormuz. The command stated that tankers must adhere to its approved routes or risk facing a ‘forceful response.’ This warning has heightened tensions concerning the crucial waterway for international energy supplies.
The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow entrance to the Persian Gulf, has become a central topic in discussions aimed at bringing a lasting end to the ongoing conflict involving Iran. The Khatam al-Anbiya military command’s statement, reported by Iranian state television, followed meetings between U.S. and Iranian diplomats with mediators in Qatar on Wednesday.
The warning coincides with preparations for the funeral of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the late Supreme Leader of Iran, who died at the war’s outset in February. Iranian state media featured images of Khamenei’s casket arriving at the Imam Khomeini Hussainiya for a farewell ceremony, with many seen mourning near the casket draped in green. The official weeklong funeral is set to commence on Saturday.
The trigger for Iran’s recent warning remains uncertain. However, a statement by the U.S. military’s Central Command about a meeting with Middle Eastern leaders in Bahrain may have contributed. It mentioned a shared commitment to maintaining free commerce through the strait. Iran’s statement emphasized that any deviation from designated routes or ignorance of Iran’s navigation protocols will be met with immediate repercussions from its armed forces, threatening the security of the offending ships.
The threat also included a warning of a decisive reaction to interference by U.S. forces in the strait. An interim agreement between Iran and the U.S. allows ships to traverse the strait without paying charges for 60 days, with Iran insisting on controlling the routes and later imposing fees, altering the longstanding practice in the waterway.
The U.S. and Gulf Arab states have refused Iran’s demand for passage fees. Efforts by Oman and a U.N. agency to introduce a new route near Oman’s coast led to regional attacks last weekend, underscoring the tensions. Despite the tensions, traffic through the strait has been recovering. Last week, 258 ships traveled through the strait, following Iranian assaults on two commercial vessels as per Lloyd’s List Intelligence data. This is a rise from 138 the previous week.
“Iran’s attacks on June 25 and 27 seem to have been forgotten,” said Richard Meade, editor-in-chief at Lloyd’s. “Routes are being chosen on an hour-by-hour basis, contingent on shifting political approvals and real-time security assessments. This is not the new normal.”
Shipping activity remains below pre-war levels, where around 130 vessels passed daily. Operators face choices between obeying Iranian demands or using routes near Oman monitored by U.S. forces, indicating an unsettled situation.
Earlier reports indicated a foreign ship became stranded in the strait after allegedly ignoring directions from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. Nonetheless, the ship’s details suggest a connection to Iran, being stuck for months.
Amid these challenges, talks on Wednesday reportedly made ‘positive progress,’ as stated by Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi. He expressed Pakistan’s hope for scheduling another round of discussions soon after Khamenei’s funeral.
Contributions to this report came from Associated Press writers Munir Ahmed in Islamabad and Russ Bynum in Savannah, Georgia.