IRGC warns against new Hormuz route for ships: What we know - Al Jazeera

In a fresh escalation that threatens fragile regional peace, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has vehemently rejected a new shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz, threatening to take action against any vessels that defy its authority. This warning comes just hours after a Singapore-flagged cargo ship was struck by an Iranian drone near the Omani coast, inflicting damage to its bridge and immediately halting a UN-backed effort to evacuate ships from the area. This aggressive stance directly challenges a recent Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the US and Iran, which aimed to restore safe passage through the critical waterway after months of disruption from the four-month US-Israel war on Iran. Oman, in coordination with the International Maritime Organization (IMO), had unveiled the new temporary corridor earlier this week, seeking to ease maritime traffic as discussions continue on the Strait's future. However, Iran insists that all ships must use its approved routes and communicate with the IRGC Navy, even as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, currently on a Gulf tour, firmly dismisses Iran's controversial push for 'maritime service fees' as a violation of international law. With the IMO now pausing its evacuation plans for hundreds of stranded vessels to reassess safety, the incident casts a long shadow over stability in the world's most vital oil chokepoint. While oil markets initially saw a surge in supply and a drop in Brent Crude prices as traffic resumed, this attack injects fresh uncertainty, potentially rekindling fears of supply disruptions. The world watches to see if this latest move derails the broader peace negotiations or forces a renewed international effort to secure freedom of navigation in this crucial global artery.