Iran has ruled out the establishment of a second shipping corridor through the Strait of Hormuz, a move that cements the narrow waterway as the exclusive chokepoint for regional energy exports.
The statement, attributed to an Iranian official, signals Tehran's intent to maintain strict control over maritime traffic in the Gulf, rejecting any attempts to diversify transit routes that might dilute its strategic leverage.
The refusal to open an alternative lane within the strait underscores the persistent geopolitical friction in the region.
With the Strait of Hormuz handling roughly a fifth of global oil consumption, any constraint on its capacity or security directly impacts global supply chains.
The development comes amid heightened tensions, with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps previously declaring the strait would not reopen under current US maritime policies.
For energy traders, the statement reinforces the structural risk premium embedded in crude prices.