WASHINGTON — Iran’s beleaguered navy issued a stern warning on Wednesday, cautioning foreign vessels that they face destruction if they attempt to navigate the Strait of Hormuz without Tehran’s explicit consent.
“You must obtain permission from the Iranian Sepah navy to pass through the strait. Any vessel attempting to transit without such permission will be destroyed,” an Iranian official announced in an audio recording shared with the Wall Street Journal by a ship crew member.
This threat emerges despite President Trump’s declaration on Tuesday evening that Iran had agreed to the “COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz,” a crucial passage through which more than 20% of the world’s seaborne oil is transported annually.
The reopening of the Strait was a significant stipulation in the ceasefire agreement concerning the ongoing conflict with Iran.
Previously, Iran had launched missile and drone attacks to disrupt the strait, retaliating against joint US-Israeli military actions on Iranian soil, aiming to impact the global economy significantly.
The ceasefire announced by Trump on Tuesday is set to last for two weeks, providing a window for both parties to negotiate a lasting resolution to the conflict that erupted on February 28.
