The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps issued an unusual warning Thursday morning, saying safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz would be possible only through shipping lanes approved by Tehran. According to the organization, the new route announced without coordination with Iran is "unacceptable and dangerous," and it stressed that vessels that fail to follow the directives would be "dealt with." The threat comes amid efforts to regulate alternative shipping lanes in the strait, one of the world's most important trade and energy routes.
About a week ago, the Revolutionary Guards announced that "the costs of the Strait of Hormuz will be covered by the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran for 60 days." This is effectively a continuation of Iranian declarations claiming sovereignty over the management of the Strait of Hormuz, even though it is an international waterway in which, under the ceasefire, Iran agreed to allow free passage.
On Wednesday, according to a Saudi diplomatic source who spoke with Israel Hayom, several clauses in the memorandum, and especially the interpretation given to them by senior Iranian officials, were raising serious concerns in Riyadh. According to the source, the Saudis conveyed two central messages to the White House: first, that the Strait of Hormuz must remain fully open and free of transit fees, with the Iranian threat removed; and second, that Iran must commit in writing to refrain from attacking Gulf states, with that commitment backed by international sanctions and harsh penalties if violated. The source added that US President Donald Trump's comments on the fees were a direct result of the Saudi appeal.
