“We warn all ships wishing to pass through Hormuz that the only safe corridor is the one designated by Iran,” the Iranian army wrote in a statement.
The military threatened that an attempt to sail through Hormuz outside the designated route was dangerous and would be met with a “firm response from the navy,” a statement quoted by Iran's state television said.
Iran introduces new guidelines on the Strait of Hormuz
On Monday, the Iranian army showed a map of the Strait of Hormuz, which lies between Iran, the United Arab Emirates and Oman, marking the expanded area controlled by the country's authorities.
Media in Iran announced on Tuesday that Tehran has introduced a new system for managing traffic through Hormuz, to which all ships passing through the strait will have to adapt. The transit is to be coordinated by the Iranian army.
The need to coordinate all traffic through Hormuz with the Iranian authorities would be a fundamental change to the pre-war situation, when commercial shipping through this water area was unrestricted.
Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian said on Tuesday that the US is again concentrating troops, despite ongoing dialogue, to put maximum pressure on Tehran and force it to surrender. – This will not happen – said the politician, quoted by state media.
The US and Israel's war with Iran. Tehran blocked the Strait of Hormuz
Iran virtually completely blocked navigation through the Strait of Hormuz in the first days of the war started by the US and Israel on February 28. A ceasefire has been in place in the conflict for almost a month, but the strait, which is crucial for oil and gas trade, remains blocked. Iran has previously attacked ships trying to break the blockade.
US President Donald Trump announced the launch of Operation Project Freedom on Monday, aimed at defending merchant ships passing through Hormuz against Iranian strikes.
American media reported that both American warships and merchant ships had already passed through Hormuz as part of this operation. Donald Trump also threatened Iran with new strikes if it attacks American ships.
Members of the U.N. Security Council are scheduled to begin talks on Tuesday on a resolution backed by the U.S. and Bahrain that would authorize the use of force against Iran for obstructing global commercial shipping.
