Iran warns of no safe passage for ships using routes outside Hormuz-designated corridors

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran's authority overseeing the Strait of Hormuz announced Thursday evening that vessels transiting outside routes designated by the body will not be guaranteed safe passage. In a post on X, the organization said shipowners, operators and captains will be held responsible for the consequences of using unauthorized routes. The statement followed a report by the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations of a suspected attack on a cargo ship transiting the strait off Oman. The Wall Street Journal reported, citing U.S. officials, that Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps had attacked a Singapore-flagged cargo vessel in the Strait of Hormuz. The International Maritime Organization said it had temporarily suspended evacuations of seafarers from vessels on transit plans in the region pending renewed security assurances. Commercial traffic through the strait had risen sharply after a temporary truce between the United States and Iran took effect last week, though Iran said over the weekend that the waterway was closed and that no ship without authorization would be permitted to transit.