Iran Issues Stern Warning on Strait of Hormuz Passages: 'Unacceptable and Extremely Dangerous'
Tehran, June 25: Iran's Revolutionary Guards have warned against any unauthorised crossings of the Strait of Hormuz, stating that vessels not complying 'will be dealt with.' The statement, issued on Thursday, underscores growing tensions over the strategic waterway, through which approximately 20% of the world's crude oil and liquefied natural gas normally transits.
The future of the strait, a vital energy route that was blockaded by Iran during the recent war, remains a key point of contention in ongoing negotiations between Tehran and Washington. Iran has proposed imposing what it calls 'maritime service fees,' while the United States insists the waterway is international and should be free of charges.
'The only authorised route for passage through the Strait of Hormuz is the route announced by the Islamic Republic of Iran,' the Revolutionary Guards said in a statement. Any crossing without authorisation is 'unacceptable and extremely dangerous,' they added.
The statement did not elaborate on which authorities had announced a new route, but it appeared to be a response to Oman's release of a map showing a temporary corridor close to the Omani coast, coordinated with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), a UN agency responsible for marine safety.
The only route currently authorised by Iran follows its own coastline. The strait, at its narrowest, is only about 30 kilometres wide.
A memorandum of understanding signed last week between Tehran and Washington to end their war stipulated that commercial ships may transit the strait free of charge for the next 60 days. With negotiations ongoing, it remains unclear what arrangements will be in place after that period.
Iran and Oman announced on Tuesday that they would study the 'costs' to be charged for services related to administration of the strait. However, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, visiting neighbouring Gulf countries this week, said Washington would not accept any tolls or fees.
The situation highlights the delicate balance in the region, where energy security and sovereign claims intersect. Analysts note that any prolonged disruption to shipping through the strait could have significant global economic repercussions.
