Iran warns of immediate response to US interference in Strait of Hormuz

TEHRAN (Terror Monitor) — Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, the operational command of the Iranian Armed Forces, has warned that any deviation from designated maritime routes or disregard of Iranian navigation regulations in the Strait of Hormuz could endanger the safety of vessels.

In a statement, the headquarters said that any U.S. interference in the Strait of Hormuz would be met with a “decisive and immediate response” from Iran’s armed forces.

The statement described the Strait of Hormuz as falling within Iran’s “undisputed sovereign domain” and urged all vessels, including oil tankers and commercial ships, to strictly follow Iranian-designated safe passage routes.

It further warned that ships deviating from these routes or ignoring Iran’s navigation protocols could face a “swift and severe reaction” from the armed forces.

Iranian forces also said the continued presence of U.S. fighter jets and drones over the Strait poses a threat to the security of this strategic waterway and to regional stability.

Earlier, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi claimed on social media platform X that monitoring of the Strait of Hormuz is conducted under Iranian command rather than U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM).

Meanwhile, shipping unions and companies have announced that the Strait of Hormuz will be treated as a “war operations zone” for at least the next eight days following recent attacks on two vessels despite a ceasefire between Iran and the United States.

According to the statement, the designation will remain in effect until at least July 9, with the situation to be reviewed on a weekly basis.