Iran on Friday asserted its right to manage commercial shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz and warned ships not to take alternative routes a day after a cargo ship was struck in the waterway.
Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran’s deputy foreign minister, wrote on social media that safe passage through the strait could only be guaranteed through cooperation with Iranian authorities.
“Any credible framework must be based on coordination with Iran and the provisions of paragraph five of the Islamabad memorandum of understanding. Otherwise, the outcome will be the suspension of the designated parallel route,” Mr. Gharibabadi wrote.
The provision Mr. Gharibabadi references requires Iran to remove its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and charge no fees for at least 60 days. During that period, Iran is also required to discuss “future administration and maritime services in the strait” with Oman.
However, the provision does not outline who has direct authority over the waterway during the 60-day negotiation period.
The uncertainty is coupled with a drive to jumpstart commercial shipping traffic in the strait after Iran effectively closed it for months. Earlier this week, the International Maritime Organization began guiding ships out of the Persian Gulf through Omani waters at the southern end of the Strait of Hormuz.
One of the vessels attempting to move through Omani waters, the Singapore-flagged Ever Lovely, was struck by an unidentified object on Thursday. There were no reported casualties and the ship eventually completed its transit of the strait, according to Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority.
Iran has not claimed responsibility for the strike, but reports citing unnamed U.S. officials say Tehran was behind the attack.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on Thursday had issued a stern warning to ships traveling outside pre-approved routes just hours before the Ever Lovely was attacked.
The attack forced the International Maritime Organization to temporarily suspend its efforts to guide ships through the Strait of Hormuz until it can receive security guarantees from the relevant authorities.
Iranian state-affiliated media on Friday said at least three foreign oil tankers changed course after the attack on the Ever Lovely.
Contact the author
Please read our comment policy before commenting.