No Hormuz Passage for Those Taking Payouts from Iran’s Frozen Assets: IRGC

Iran warned countries and international companies that receiving any compensation payment from Iran’s assets frozen abroad will mean they will be completely cut off from transit in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters announced on Tuesday that it views a recent announcement by US President Donald Trump about compensating countries and entities for damage inflicted on their ships in the Persian Gulf from Iran’s frozen assets as “illegal”. The command, which is in charge of coordinating Iranian armed forces during war and crisis times, said ship owners will face consequences if they receive such compensation.

“…we declare to all companies and countries that welcome Trump's proposal and use Iran's blocked assets under this pretext, that from now on, the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran will not allow any of their vessels to transit through the Strait of Hormuz,” said the statement. It added that the damage caused to cargo ships and tankers in recent months has been a result of the insecurity caused by the US military in the region. It also said that ships that have suffered damage have violated navigation protocols announced by Iran for safe sailing in the Strait of Hormuz and have chosen to travel “through the illegal and unsafe route” south of the Strait.

Iran has imposed strict controls on transit through Hormuz since the early days of the US-Israeli aggression on the country on February 28. Iran agreed to gradually ease the restrictions under a memorandum of understanding signed with the US last month that sought to permanently end the aggression and lift sanctions from the country. However, passage through Hormuz came under renewed checks and controls after the US failed to uphold those terms of the understanding that exclusively delegated the responsibility for controlling the strait to Iran.

The Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters also in an earlier statement warned the United States that threats against Iranian commercial vessels and oil tankers will not go unanswered, as Washington persists in its war of aggression and attempts to impose an illegal naval blockade on the Islamic Republic. It noted that over the past days, American forces have threatened Iranian ships operating in the country’s coastal and territorial waters as part of their unlawful efforts to enforce a maritime siege against Iran. “This action by the United States is regarded as the expansion of war in the region,” the statement stressed. “Just as the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran have proven on the battlefield, they will not leave any threat or act of evil by the terrorist army of that country unanswered and will confront it decisively.” The headquarters reaffirmed Iran’s unwavering determination to defend its sovereignty and maritime rights against foreign provocations.

The Islamic Republic has repeatedly demonstrated its capability and resolve to protect national interests and respond appropriately to aggression, ensuring that regional stability cannot be undermined by external powers seeking confrontation. This latest warning comes as the US continues its pressure tactics against Iran through illegal means, which Tehran has consistently rejected as clear violations of international law and a direct threat to peace and security in West Asia. Iran and the US signed the memorandum of understanding last month to end the cycle arising from the latest bout of unprovoked American-Israeli aggression against the Islamic Republic, which had begun on February 28. Under the understanding, Iran agreed to allow fee-free maritime transit through the strait for a period of 60 days. In compliance with the MoU, the Islamic Republic devised a special maritime route for vessels to cross the chokepoint, while warning against transit through illegal routes. The US has, however, been trying to escort transit through the strait along an illegal passageway, prompting the Islamic Republic to shut the corridor until Washington ended its interference in regional maritime movement. - Iran Daily