The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy has issued a stern warning to commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, declaring that only routes explicitly approved by Tehran are permissible.
The military branch stated that any ship attempting to use alternative corridors, including a newly announced temporary route by Oman, would face immediate enforcement action.
The IRGC's latest ultimatum risks reversing that sentiment, reintroducing uncertainty into the flow of roughly 20% of the world's oil supply.
The IRGC labeled the new transit path as "unacceptable" and "dangerous," signaling a hardening of Iran's stance on maritime sovereignty in the narrow waterway.
The threat comes at a precarious moment for global energy markets.
Just hours before the IRGC's declaration, Brent crude prices had slid as reports emerged that tankers were resuming transit through the Strait of Hormuz, suggesting a temporary easing of tensions.
The IRGC's latest ultimatum risks reversing that sentiment, reintroducing uncertainty into the flow of roughly 20% of the world's oil supply.