The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy has strongly warned that safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz is only possible via routes officially designated by the Islamic Republic.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the force described any alternative transit routes as “unacceptable and completely dangerous.”
“Traffic of vessels outside these routes is prohibited, and we warn against any traffic outside the communicated routes,” it added.
The statement further emphasized that coordination with the IRGC Navy is “mandatory” for transit through the strategic waterway.
The warning came a few days after Iran’s Parliament Speaker and chief negotiator, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said the chokepoint would not return to the status it enjoyed prior to February 28, when the United States and the Israeli regime began their latest bout of unprovoked aggression against the Islamic Republic.
“Everyone should know that the administration of the Strait of Hormuz will never go back to the way it was before the war,” Qalibaf said.
Iran closed the strait to enemies and their allies in retaliation for the aggression and then began asserting more control in reprisal for the US sustaining an illegal naval blockade of Iranian ports and vessels despite a standing ceasefire.
Recently, the two sides agreed on a memorandum of understanding aimed at ending the cycle arising out of the aggression. The MoU was subsequently signed by the Iranian and American presidents.
Under the MoU, Iran will make arrangements upon the signing of the understanding, using its best efforts for the safe passage of commercial vessels, with no charge for 60 days only, from the Persian Gulf to the Sea of Oman, and vice versa.
The Islamic Republic has, however, strictly conditioned transit through the corridor on implementation of relevant coordination with Iranian authorities.
Source: Press tv