Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) on Thursday declared that safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz is only possible through routes designated by Iran, and that a new route announced without coordination with Tehran is both unacceptable and a safety risk. In a statement carried by the official IRNA news agency, the IRGC said it would take action against vessels that fail to comply with the requirements.
Mandatory Coordination and Warnings
The IRGC added that coordination with its naval forces through international maritime Channel 16 is mandatory for vessels crossing the strait, warning that violators would face action. This announcement comes amid heightened tensions in the region following a series of military strikes and a subsequent ceasefire.
US President Donald Trump and his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian, electronically signed a memorandum of understanding on June 17 aimed at ending the war between their countries and reaching a lasting peace agreement. The region had been on edge since the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran on February 28, triggering retaliatory attacks from Tehran targeting US assets across the Middle East. A ceasefire took effect on April 8.
Trump Rejects Hormuz Fees in Any Deal
US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that any final agreement with Iran that included fees on shipping or maritime transit would be 'unacceptable' to the United States. Speaking to reporters during a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the White House, Trump was asked whether he would oppose a final Iran deal if it allowed any form of charges on shipping or maritime activity.
'It would be unacceptable to me,' said Trump. The president argued that permitting fees would set a precedent that could encourage similar demands elsewhere. 'If you did that for them, you'd have to do it for other people,' he said. 'I wouldn't allow it there either. Yeah, it would. It would be a game changer.'
Trump Clashes with Republicans Over Iran War
Meanwhile, Trump jolted Republicans during a fiery appearance at the US Capitol, scrapping a housing bill signing ceremony and clashing behind closed doors with a party rebel who challenged him over the Iran war. Trump had been expected to sign the bipartisan housing affordability package at a high-profile event, giving Republicans a chance to tout action on one of voters' biggest economic concerns ahead of November's midterm elections. But the president abruptly cancelled the ceremony two hours beforehand, saying he would not sign the bill until Congress passed the SAVE America Act, his long-sought package of voting restrictions.
