Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has issued a stern warning to shipowners against utilizing new transit routes through the Strait of Hormuz without Tehran’s approval, threatening action against non-compliant vessels. The IRGC declared that any new route established without coordination with Iran is “unacceptable and dangerous.”
This warning comes amid a memorandum of understanding signed last week between Iran and the United States aimed at reopening the vital energy corridor after months of conflict. Iranian media reports state that only shipping lanes designated by Iran are authorized for passage, and vessels must coordinate with Iranian forces through established communication channels.
Navigation outside these routes is “highly dangerous and prohibited,” according to the IRGC Navy, urging all vessels to avoid traveling beyond designated corridors. The statement was issued days after a leading maritime information group recommended alternative shipping routes through the strait, advising shipowners to use a southern corridor along Omani territorial waters with transponder signals activated.
Shipping activity through the Strait of Hormuz has shown signs of recovery, though traffic remains below pre-conflict levels. Data from vessel-tracking firm MarineTraffic showed that transits rose to 93 over the weekend, nearly triple the volume recorded during the previous comparable period. Before the conflict, more than 100 vessels passed through the strait daily.
The dispute over navigation comes amid growing international scrutiny of Iran’s role in the waterway. In May, the United States imposed sanctions on Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority, accusing it of attempting to “extort global maritime trade.” US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that Washington would oppose any system of tolls or restrictions on shipping through the strait.
Analysts say continued Iranian influence over the Strait of Hormuz could have lasting implications for global energy markets, with tanker traffic unlikely to return fully to pre-war levels if Tehran retains operational control of the chokepoint.