Iran says new Hormuz route ‘unacceptable,’ warns on transit

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned ship owners on Wednesday that any new transit route through the Strait of Hormuz without coordination with Tehran is invalid. “Unacceptable and dangerous” Threatening actions against ships that ignore their instructions.

This stern warning underlines Tehran’s determination to maintain control over the Strait of Hormuz and resist passages that exceed its authority. It also underscores the uncertainty facing shipowners navigating the Bosphorus even after the United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding last week to reopen the strategically vital energy artery.

The Revolutionary Guard Navy said that only shipping routes designated by Iran are allowed to pass and that coordination with Iranian forces through the designated communication channel is mandatory. Iranian local media.

“Navigating outside these routes is extremely dangerous and prohibited, and we warn all ships to strictly avoid any movement outside the designated corridors,” the IRGC Navy said, according to the report. he said.

The warning came from a major naval information group, proposed alternative shipping corridors On Saturday, ship owners were asked to consider crossing the strait via the southern route while their transponder signals were on. “Southern transit route across Oman [territorial waters]The notification confirmed that the route was cleared of mines and stated that it was the recommended route.

Traffic data pointed to a temporary improvement. The number of crossings last weekend tripled to 93 compared with the previous comparable period, but remains well below pre-war levels, with more than 100 ships passing through the strait each day, according to ship tracking data provider MarineTraffic.

MarineTraffic also 31 confirmed passes confirmed by commercial and energized vessels on Tuesday as shipowners continued to use mixed routing patterns from Iran, Oman and the International Maritime Organization through the narrow passage. “Operators are still acting cautiously rather than returning to completely normal traffic patterns,” the company said in a statement on Thursday. he said.

US Treasury approved Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Administration in Mayhe describes it as an attempt to “usurp global maritime trade”. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also warned that Washington would not do this tolerate any pricing system About Hormuz, he said his agency would aggressively target relevant actors.

Analysts have warned that any Iranian control could have long-term effects on oil flows through the Strait, as transits may not fully recover to pre-war levels if Tehran retains strategic control over the waterway.

Helima Croft, head of global commodity strategy at RBC Capital Markets, said oil tanker traffic at Hormuz before the war could represent a peak for transits in the foreseeable future. “An end to any conflict that would result in Iran gaining operational control and influence over the Strait would, in our view, result in significant reductions in flows through the waterway,” Croft told clients in a note on Thursday.

— CNBC’s Spencer Kimball contributed to this report.