Iran warns oil tankers to use approved routes in Strait of Hormuz or face a ‘forceful response’

Iran warns oil tankers to use approved routes in Strait of Hormuz or face a ‘forceful response’ Iranian deputy foreign minister has asserted that Strait of Hormuz is ‘under Iran's command’ - Bookmark Iran’s joint military command warned Thursday that all oil tankers moving through the Strait of Hormuz must use its approved routes or face a “forceful response.” The statement from the Khatam al-Anbiya military command was aired on Iranian state television. It wasn’t immediately clear what sparked the threat from Iran. “Any failure to comply, deviation from the designated route, or disregard for the navigation protocols of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the Strait of Hormuz will be met with an immediate and forceful response from the armed forces, endangering the security of the violating vessels,” the statement said. It also said the continued presence of U.S. fighter jets over the strait “causes insecurity in this waterway and threatens regional security.” Iran's deputy foreign minister Kazem Gharibabadi has asserted that the Strait of Hormuz is "under Iran's command, not Centcom’s", dismissing any suggestion that US-led military efforts can determine security in the strategically vital waterway. In a post on X on Wednesday, Gharibabadi said a military meeting in Bahrain could not establish a legal or security framework for the Persian Gulf. "Hormuz is defined under Iran's command, not Centcom. A military summit in Bahrain cannot establish legal order and security for the Persian Gulf," he wrote. Meanwhile, US president Donald Trump told reporters that the “denuclearisation of Iran is moving along well” and that “very good meetings” were held in Qatar as he and his vice president played down any suggestion of a return to all-out combat.