WANA (Jun 26) – Iran has warned that all vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz must use the shipping route designated by Tehran, saying any alternative route established without its coordination is “illegal, unacceptable, and highly dangerous.”

 

According to Iranian authorities, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy issued the warning to all vessels operating in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, stressing that ships must coordinate their passage through VHF Channel 16 and follow the route approved by Iran.

 

Following the warning, three foreign oil tankers that had reportedly intended to transit the southern corridor of the Strait of Hormuz altered their course and returned toward the Persian Gulf instead of continuing along the unauthorized route.

 

The IRGC Navy said the warning was prompted by reports that some authorities had announced a new navigation route through the Strait of Hormuz without notifying or coordinating with Iran. It warned that navigation outside the routes designated by Tehran is prohibited, poses significant safety risks, and could result in legal action against violators.

 

Iranian officials also warned that vessels using routes other than those approved by Tehran could lose insurance coverage, adding that any consequences arising from unauthorized transit would be the responsibility of the vessels’ owners, operators, and captains.

 

Tehran has linked the policy to a memorandum signed on June 18 between Iran and the United States following the ceasefire agreement. Under the document, Iran says it committed to facilitating the safe passage of commercial vessels between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman for an initial 60-day period while maritime navigation arrangements are implemented. The memorandum also states that Iran and Oman will discuss the future management of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz in accordance with international law and the sovereign rights of the two coastal states.

 

Iran’s Foreign Ministry also reiterated that the Strait of Hormuz lies within the territorial waters of Iran and Oman, saying the navigation arrangements outlined in the memorandum will serve as the basis for managing commercial shipping through the strategic waterway.