Tensions in the Middle East have escalated again after Iran warned foreign vessels that any ship attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz without its approval could face destruction.
According to reports, Iranian authorities told commercial ships they must obtain clearance from the naval forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps before entering the strategic waterway.
In an audio recording reportedly shared with the Wall Street Journal by a crew member, an Iranian official is heard issuing a blunt warning: ships must receive authorisation from the IRGC’s Sepah Navy to transit the strait or risk being destroyed.
The warning comes just hours after Donald Trump announced that Iran had agreed to a “complete, immediate and safe” reopening of the Strait of Hormuz — a critical route through which more than one-fifth of the world’s seaborne oil supply moves every year.
Keeping the strait open was a central condition in the fragile ceasefire deal aimed at easing the war that has driven global fuel prices sharply higher since Iran shut down the vital chokepoint.
Tehran had previously deployed missiles and drones around the strait in retaliation for joint strikes carried out by the United States and Israel against targets inside Iran, actions that rattled energy markets worldwide.
The ceasefire, announced on Tuesday by Trump, is expected to last for two weeks while negotiations continue in search of a broader agreement to end the conflict that began on February 28.
A senior Iranian official involved in the discussions told Reuters the strait might reopen in a “limited” capacity as early as Thursday or Friday, but only under Iranian supervision.
The official stressed that all ships would be required to coordinate with Iranian military authorities before entering the passage.
“If a framework for talks is reached, the strait could reopen in a controlled and limited manner under Iran’s authority,” the official said, adding that cooperation with Iran’s military would be mandatory.
Despite the ceasefire, the official cautioned that the situation remains delicate.
“Iran prefers lasting peace,” he said. “But if the United States chooses confrontation again, we are not afraid to return to war.”
Meanwhile, during a press briefing on Wednesday, Pete Hegseth insisted that the waterway remained open and that international trade would continue.
“What has been agreed and stated is that the strait is open,” he told reporters. “Both our military and theirs are watching the situation, but commerce will flow.”
He also indicated that U.S. forces would remain stationed in the region to ensure Iran respects the ceasefire terms.
