Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has warned commercial shipping companies that the southern transit routes through the Strait of Hormuz are now mined.
The warning, issued by IRGC representative Hossein Mohebi, marks a significant escalation in the military’s campaign to restrict maritime access to the critical chokepoint.
The threat comes as Tehran has already declared the Strait of Hormuz closed to all maritime traffic until further notice.
State media reports indicate the IRGC Navy has issued stern warnings to vessels, asserting that only routes explicitly approved by Tehran are permissible.
This move effectively places the entire commercial shipping community in a position of non-compliance if they attempt to transit the waterway.
The development follows a broader intensification of hostilities, with Tehran reportedly striking US facilities in Bahrain, Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman.