Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Thursday warned that vessels crossing the Strait of Hormuz without prior authorisation would be “dealt with,” declaring that any unauthorised passage is “unacceptable and extremely dangerous.”
In a statement, the IRGC said that “the only authorised route for passage through the Strait of Hormuz is the route announced by the Islamic Republic of Iran,” reinforcing Tehran’s claim to regulate traffic through the strategic waterway.
The future of the strait — a critical artery for global energy shipments that Iran effectively shut during the recent war — remains a central point of contention in ongoing negotiations between Tehran and Washington.
Iran has indicated it intends to impose what it describes as maritime service fees rather than tolls. The United States, however, maintains that the strait constitutes an international waterway and should remain free of such charges.
The developments come as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio visits Bahrain as part of a regional tour, seeking to reassure Gulf allies that Washington will safeguard their interests while working toward a final settlement with Iran.
Meanwhile, in Lebanon, the Israeli military said one soldier was killed and another wounded during an “operation” in the country’s south, despite a relative lull in airstrikes.
