Iran’s IRGC Navy warns against uncoordinated shipping through Hormuz Strait

Tehran: Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy on Thursday stressed that the only authorised routes for vessels’ passage through the Strait of Hormuz are the ones announced by Iranian authorities.

It made the remarks in a statement published on the IRGC’s official news outlet Sepah News while warning that ships’ movement through other routes is dangerous and prohibited.

The IRGC’s Navy made the announcement after the Oman Maritime Security Centre released guidelines for outbound ships’ passage through the strait under an arrangement with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), Xinhua news agency reported.

Everyone must know that the only routes for passage through the strait are those announced by Iran, and traffic outside those routes is very dangerous and prohibited, and must be strictly avoided, it added.

Under a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed on June 18 with the United States to end the war, Iran has undertaken to arrange for the safe passage of commercial vessels through the strait, with no charge for 60 days.

On Tuesday, Iran and Oman issued a joint statement saying that they have agreed to establish a “joint working group” to negotiate the future administration of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, and reaffirming their commitment to ensuring vessels’ safe passage through the waterway in accordance with international law.

IMO also announced an evacuation plan for more than 11,000 seafarers still stranded in the Strait of Hormuz.

The IMO has secured the necessary safety guarantees and verified safe navigation conditions to support the evacuation operation, IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said in a statement on Tuesday.

The operation follows the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States (US) and will be carried out in close cooperation with Iran, Oman, other countries in the region, and the maritime industry, Dominguez said.

IANS