Lead
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have warned against any crossings of the Strait of Hormuz without authorization, saying vessels not complying “will be dealt with,” as the future of the strategic waterway remains a key sticking point in negotiations between Tehran and Washington. The warning, issued on Thursday, came as a Liberian oil tanker made its way out of the strait using a route close to Oman’s shore, and as Oman announced an alternative corridor through the waterway.
Coverage comparison
Reporting on the development has emphasized Iran’s control over the strait, with both Al Jazeera and The Hindu framing the issue as a confrontation between Iran and the United States. Al Jazeera’s coverage highlighted Iran’s warning and the context of US-Iran conflict, while The Hindu noted that the strait’s future is a key sticking point in negotiations between Tehran and Washington. South China Morning Post took a more cautious tone, focusing on diplomatic warnings and the fragility of a Pakistan-brokered agreement aimed at ending the war.
A separate report from The Hindu noted that Indonesia and Singapore vowed to keep the Strait of Malacca accessible, even as Iran imposes fees on ships traversing the Strait of Hormuz.
Key claims
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said that the “only authorised route” for passage through the Strait of Hormuz is the one announced by Iran. Any crossing without authorization is “unacceptable and extremely dangerous,” they warned. The statement also denounced a new route announced by “certain authorities,” which appeared to be a response to Oman’s announcement of a temporary corridor running close to the Omani coast, coordinated with the International Maritime Organization, according to The Hindu. Al Jazeera reported that Tehran plans to impose maritime service fees, while the United States argues the strait is an international waterway and should not be charged.
A memorandum of understanding signed last week by Tehran and Washington to end their war stipulated that commercial ships may transit the strait free of charge for the next 60 days, as reported by Al Jazeera.
A Liberian oil tanker made its way out of the strait on Thursday using a route close to Oman’s shore, as reported by Al Jazeera, citing The Associated Press. The vessel, named the Stoic Warrior, hugged the coast of the UAE and then Oman before travelling around Oman’s Musandam Peninsula.
Iran’s top diplomat, according to South China Morning Post, warned on Sunday that any attempt by ships to bypass Iran’s preferred route would “increase tensions” in the Middle East. The diplomat also that the exchanges underscored the fragility of a Pakistan-brokered agreement aimed at ending the war.
Oman announced an alternative route through the Strait of Hormuz, as reported by South China Morning Post and corroborated by Al Jazeera. The route hugs the Omani shoreline, and Muscat said it was in conjunction with the International Maritime Organization. Iran, however, has continued to insist on controlling passage through the strait, which it did not enjoy before the war, according to South China Morning Post.
Indonesia and Singapore, in a joint press conference on Monday, vowed that the Strait of Malacca will remain “accessible” even as Iran imposes fees on ships traversing the Strait of Hormuz, as reported by The Hindu. Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong discussed the matter in Jakarta, with both leaders emphasizing commitment to freedom of navigation under UNCLOS.