TEHRAN: Iran’s Revolutionary Guards warned on Tuesday that they would respond firmly to any ships that diverge from the Islamic republic’s approved route through the Strait of Hormuz.
“We warn all vessels planning to transit the Strait of Hormuz that the only safe passage is the corridor previously announced by Iran. Any diversion of ships to other routes is dangerous and will result in a firm response from the Iranian Revolutionary Guards navy,” it said in a statement carried by state television and reported by AFP.
The warning came on the second day of a US effort to facilitate the transit of commercial ships through the waterway, which Iran closed in response to the US-Israeli war against the Islamic republic.
Iran's Press TV also reported on Tuesday that the country had warned the US Navy to stay out of the Strait of Hormuz and that commercial vessels will need to coordinate any passage with its military, according to Reuters. Press TV also issued a new map of the strait with an expanded Iranian area of control.
At the same time, Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian reiterated that Tehran remained ready for dialogue, but said: "Our problem is that, on the one hand, the United States is pursuing a policy of maximum pressure against our country and, on the other hand, they expect Iran to come to the negotiating table and ultimately capitulate to their unilateral demands."
"But such an equation is impossible," he added.
* With AFP and Reuters
