The Iranian Navy announced that all ships planning to pass through the Strait of Hormuz must use two alternative routes proposed by Tehran to avoid the risk of colliding with mines.
The directive was issued by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
“Due to the military situation in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz and the possible discovery of various anti-ship mines at sea, all ships intending to pass through the strait are required, in coordination with the naval forces of the IRGC in the Strait of Hormuz, to use alternative routes until further notice,“ the statement said.
It noted that this decision was taken “in order to comply with the principles of maritime security and prevent possible collisions with sea mines“.
The directive presents two alternative routes through the Strait of Hormuz from the Persian Gulf and back. Both pass through the waters of Larak Island.
A fee for ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz would set a dangerous precedent for freedom of navigation around the world; the international community is unlikely to agree to such a fee.
This was stated by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in an interview with CNN.
According to Mitsotakis, the issue of free passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz directly affects Greece. “We are one of the main “players” when it comes to ships owned and operated by Greece. I have always defended freedom of navigation – an issue of paramount importance for the future of the Strait of Hormuz. The Strait of Hormuz has always been free of navigation and I believe that it should remain so in the future,” the Prime Minister said. "I don't think the international community will be ready to accept Iran setting up a 'toll collection point' for every ship passing through the Strait. I find this completely unacceptable," Mitsotakis added.
"That's why I think we will have intense negotiations," the prime minister continued. "I think that ultimately we may need a separate international agreement on the Strait of Hormuz. There are historical precedents. But this agreement cannot - I repeat, cannot - include any fee that ships pay every time they pass through the Strait of Hormuz. This did not happen before the war and it cannot happen after it ends."
Mitsotakis stressed that no one has ever paid anything to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. "If something like this were to happen, we would set a very dangerous precedent for freedom of navigation around the world," the head of government said.