Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has warned that only routes approved by Tehran are valid for commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, casting uncertainty over a newly announced multinational effort to reopen the strategic waterway.
In a statement carried by Tasnim news agency on 25 June, the IRGC Navy said safe passage through the strait was only possible via routes designated by the Islamic Republic and that all vessels must coordinate with Iranian forces during transit. The warning came shortly after Oman announced the opening of a temporary maritime corridor aimed at restoring commercial shipping and facilitating the evacuation of more than 11,000 seafarers stranded in the Gulf.
The corridor, developed by Oman in coordination with the International Maritime Organization (IMO), establishes temporary routes north and south of the existing traffic separation scheme, which authorities say remains unsafe following months of disruption linked to regional conflict.
Ships using the corridor will be guided through a controlled process and will not be charged transit fees, according to Omani officials, who said the measure is intended to safeguard freedom of navigation and support global trade.
The development follows the signing of a peace agreement between Iran and the United States. IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said the IMO will begin implementing a large-scale evacuation plan for more than 11,000 seafarers still stranded in the region, following the securing of safety guarantees and verification of navigation conditions.
The IMO evacuation plan is a welcome development to delivering this coordination and restoring freedom of navigation. It is vital this plan works in harmony, rather than conflicting, with existing mechanisms said an International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) spokesperson, adding that the immediate priority remains the safe evacuation of stranded crews and stressed that the IMO-led plan must work in harmony with existing maritime security arrangements.
Meanwhile, Oman and Iran have agreed to establish a joint working group to discuss the long-term management of navigation and maritime services in the Strait of Hormuz.