Iran’s central military command, the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters (KCHQ), has warned that all oil tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz must use routes approved by Tehran or face what it described as an “immediate and forceful response,” amid rising tensions over one of the world’s most strategically important waterways.
The warning was issued by Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters and broadcast by state television on Thursday, a day after US and Iranian representatives held indirect talks in Qatar aimed at advancing negotiations to permanently end the conflict between the two countries.
The Strait of Hormuz, which serves as the main gateway between the Persian Gulf and global markets, has emerged as one of the most contentious issues in ongoing negotiations between Washington and Tehran.
Iran did not specify what prompted the latest warning. However, CENTCOM had earlier released a statement following a meeting with Gulf partners in Bahrain, where it said that “leaders underscored their shared commitment to the free flow of commerce through the Strait of Hormuz.”
The statement reportedly angered Iran which reiterated its claim over the waterway, claiming that it is the sole authority regarding the management and shipping routes of the Strait of Hormuz.
“Any failure to comply, deviation from the designated route, or disregard for the navigation protocols of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the Strait of Hormuz will be met with an immediate and forceful response from the armed forces, endangering the security of the violating vessels,” the military statement said.
The KCHQ also criticised the continued presence of American military aircraft over the Strait, claiming such operations undermine security in the region.
“The continued presence of US fighter jets over the Strait of Hormuz causes insecurity in this waterway and threatens regional security,” the statement said.
It further warned that any attempt by Washington to intervene in security arrangements in the Strait would be viewed as a challenge to Iranian sovereignty.
“Any attempt by the United States to interfere in security matters or any disruptive action in the Strait of Hormuz will be considered a threat to Iran’s national sovereignty and will be met with a rapid and decisive reaction,” the statement added.
Under the interim memorandum of understanding reached between Washington and Tehran last month, commercial vessels were permitted to transit the waterway without any charges for a period of 60 days.
However, Tehran has maintained that it retains the right to determine approved shipping routes and intends to introduce transit fees once the temporary arrangement expires.
The US and several GCC states have rejected Iran’s interpretation, insisting that the strait is an international waterway where freedom of navigation must be preserved.
Disagreements over the future management of the Strait of Hormuz intensified further after Oman and a UN maritime agency proposed an alternative shipping corridor closer to Omani waters, much to Iran’s objection.
