Iran Warns Ships Against Using Unapproved Routes in Strait of Hormuz

Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters warned Thursday that oil tankers and commercial vessels must use its designated routes through the Strait of Hormuz or face an "immediate and forceful response" from the armed forces 123, a day after US and Iranian diplomats met with Qatari mediators who reported "positive progress" toward a peace deal 1. The command separately warned that continued US aircraft presence over the strait or any US interference in its security would draw a "rapid and decisive reaction" 234. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi criticized a prior US Central Command statement on a Bahrain security dialogue, saying the forum "cannot establish legal order and security for the Persian Gulf" 1. Ship traffic through the strait has risen since the June 17 ceasefire memorandum but remains well below the roughly 130 daily crossings recorded before the war, with at least 258 vessels transiting last week compared to 138 the week prior 23.