Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, IRGC, on Wednesday night warned of potential danger due to sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz, advising vessels to avoid the main shipping lanes even as tensions continue to rise despite a ceasefire with the U.S. brokered by Pakistan.
The IRGC navy in a statement, released a map marking a designated danger zone within the strategic waterway, raising fresh concerns over maritime safety in the Gulf.
Citing ongoing security risks, Iranian authorities urged ships to adopt an alternative route further north to prevent what they described as a “possible collision with sea mines.”
The recommended passage runs near Larak Island, off Iran’s southern coast.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints, particularly for global energy supplies.
According to the International Energy Agency, nearly 30 per cent of the world’s seaborne oil passed through the strait in 2023.
Shipping through the narrow, 55-kilometre-wide corridor has been severely disrupted since the outbreak of hostilities on February 28, with Iran’s naval forces accused of deterring traffic through threats and attacks on tankers and cargo vessels.
The disruptions have contributed to rising global energy prices.
The latest warning comes shortly after a ceasefire agreement between Tehran and Washington.
U.S. President Donald Trump had made the reopening of the strait a key condition of the two-week truce.
However, reports suggest that Iran is seeking to impose tolls on vessels using routes close to its coastline.
Since the ceasefire took effect on Wednesday night, shipping activity through the strait appears to remain limited, according to media reports and maritime tracking data.
