Iran Warns of 'Powerful Response' Against Ships Ignoring Approved Hormuz Strait Routes
Iran's military has warned that oil tankers and commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz must follow routes designated by Tehran or face a "powerful response," escalating tensions despite ongoing diplomatic efforts between Iran and the United States.
The warning came on Thursday, a day after Iranian state media reported that a cargo vessel had run aground in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. While authorities released few details about the incident, state media claimed the ship had failed to use an approved navigation route.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints, handling roughly one-fifth of global oil trade. It has been a central issue in recent negotiations aimed at ending hostilities between Washington and Tehran.
Under a temporary memorandum of understanding reached between the two sides, Iran agreed to reopen the waterway while both countries entered a 60-day negotiation period. However, tensions resurfaced last week after Iran attacked a commercial vessel, prompting the United States to launch strikes against Iranian military targets over the weekend.
Iran has maintained that it has the authority to regulate shipping routes through the strait and impose transit fees on vessels using the passage, a position that challenges decades of international maritime practice. The Trump administration has rejected those claims, insisting that freedom of navigation must be preserved.
In a statement carried by Iranian state media, the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters declared that the Strait of Hormuz falls under the "indisputable sovereignty" of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
"The Strait of Hormuz is not a playground for the aggressive United States," the statement said. "The security and stability of this vital waterway are a red line for the powerful Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran."
The military command further instructed that all oil tankers and commercial ships must use navigation routes approved by Iran to ensure safe passage.
It warned that any vessel failing to comply with Iranian navigation protocols or deviating from designated routes would face an "immediate and powerful response" from Iran's armed forces, adding that such actions would put the safety of those vessels at risk.
The reason behind the latest warning was not immediately clear. However, it followed a meeting in Bahrain involving the U.S. Central Command and military officials from several Middle Eastern countries, where participants reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining the free flow of commerce through the Strait of Hormuz.
Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts continued as U.S. and Iranian negotiators held separate talks on Wednesday with mediators from Qatar and Pakistan. According to Qatari officials, the discussions made "positive progress," and both sides agreed to continue negotiations.
Qatar's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Majed Al-Ansari, said the next round of talks would be scheduled as soon as possible after the funeral of Iran's former Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, which is set to take place in Tehran on Saturday.
U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and presidential adviser Jared Kushner were among senior American officials who traveled to Qatar for discussions aimed at securing a permanent end to the conflict. Iran was represented by senior negotiator Kazem Gharibabadi, officials said.