Iranian state media says a foreign container ship ran aground after not using the Tehran-approved route through the Strait of Hormuz.
The cargo vessel was unable to continue its voyage due to the “shallow depth of the sea along the route it had chosen,” the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) reported, in what may be an attempt to stress Iran’s command of Hormuz.
Iran’s navy also warned vessels against using routes outside those permitted by the newly created Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA).
“The IRGC Navy continuously warns captains, owners, and officials of shipping companies around the world that any entry or exit through routes other than the designated route under Iran’s authority in the Persian Gulf may result in irreparable incidents,” it said on the IRIB Telegram channel.
The status of the critical waterway, the Strait of Hormuz, is a major sticking point between the US and Iran. Traffic has been picking up since the agreement was signed but remains well below pre-war levels.
Oman also shares control of the strait, and a ceasefire agreement between Tehran and Washington stipulated that Iran would help “define the future administration” of the waterway – a move that could give Tehran a formal role in managing safe passage for commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.