Tehran warns tankers must use approved routes or face forceful response, escalating tensions in a key oil chokepoint.
Iran’s joint military command declared Thursday that all oil tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz must follow Tehran-approved routes or risk an immediate military response. The warning, broadcast on state television, also threatened a rapid reaction to any U.S. interference in the waterway, a critical passage for global oil supplies.
The move follows recent de-escalation efforts in the region, including indirect U.S.-Iran negotiations. Approximately 20% of the world’s oil passes through the strait, making it a persistent flashpoint in geopolitical tensions.
No immediate market reaction was reported, but analysts warn the threat could pressure oil prices if tensions persist.