Iran Warns Oil Tankers to Use Approved Routes in Strait of Hormuz or Face 'Forceful Response'

Iran’s joint military command issued a clear directive that all oil tankers moving through the Strait of Hormuz must adhere to routes approved by Tehran, with a threat of a 'forceful response' for non-compliance. The warning was issued by the Iranian military command, as reported by The Hindu. A separate statement from Iran, also cited by The Hindu, added that any interference by US forces in the strait would be met with a 'rapid and decisive reaction.' The al-Jazeera report, published the following day, described the warning as a 'threat' without specifying the nature of the response, though it noted the timing coincided with Qatari mediators reporting 'positive progress' in indirect US-Iranian talks.