Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a statement on June 24, warning vessels crossing the Strait of Hormuz that they must adhere to routes designated by Iran or face consequences.
The IRGC declared any unauthorized passage as "unacceptable and extremely dangerous." It also condemned the publication of a new route through the strait by certain parties, without specifying which.
Earlier on June 24, the Liberian-flagged oil tanker Stoic Warrior transited the Strait of Hormuz along a course hugging the coast of Oman, rather than the Iranian-controlled route. The Associated Press reported, citing sources, that the vessel moved close to the shores of the UAE and Oman, skirting the Musandam Peninsula – a route established by Oman in coordination with the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
An Al Jazeera correspondent in Tehran noted that the IRGC appears frustrated by the new route, which allows ships to bypass the force's control at the Strait of Hormuz. Control over the strait has been considered a major leverage tool for Iran to pressure rivals and the global economy since the start of the US-Iran conflict.
The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow maritime chokepoint between Iran and Oman through which approximately 20% of the world's crude oil and liquefied natural gas pass. Its narrowest point is only about 30 kilometers wide. Currently, Iran only permits vessels to travel along a corridor hugging its coastline.
A memorandum of understanding signed by Tehran and Washington last week extended a truce stipulating that commercial ships may pass through the strait free of charge for the next 60 days. Meanwhile, on June 22, Iran and Oman announced they would study the "cost" of services related to managing the strait. However, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, during a visit to Gulf states this week, affirmed that Washington does not accept any fees or tariffs in the waterway.
