Iran on Thursday announced new alternative routes for ships after hours of a ceasefire agreement with the United States. This move comes as safety concerns remain in the Strait of Hormuz, even though the waterway has been temporarily reopened for two weeks.
Iran Announces Alternate Shipping Routes
Citing the risk of sea mines in the main zone of the waterway, Iran's Revolutionary Guards said ships should avoid the route for now. They also shared directions for safer entry and exit paths, urging everyone to comply with maritime safety instructions. In a statement, IRGC said, "All ships intending to transit the Strait of Hormuz are hereby notified that in order to comply with the principles of maritime safety and to be protected from possible collisions with sea mines...they should take alternative routes for traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.”
The development comes after United States President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran just before a major deadline. As part of this deal, Iran agreed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime chokepoint which handles approximately 20 per cent of the global oil trade. While both sides show signs of reducing tension, the situation remains tense. Shortly after the ceasefire announcement, there were heavy air strikes in Lebanon.
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Earlier, Iran had blocked the strait since the outbreak of the conflict on February 28, which caused global oil prices to rise sharply. The reopening is expected to help stabilise energy supplies, but safety risks and military tensions are still causing concern.
Iran To Charge Ships Passing Through Hormuz
Meanwhile, reports suggest that Iran is planning to charge ships passing through the strait. Some reports say it could be about USD 1 per barrel, or up to USD 2 million per ship. However, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasised that the ceasefire agreement clearly requires a free and open passage with no tolls. Referring to Trump’s Truth Social post on ceasefire and the strait, Leavitt said “that’s very plain language and it should be taken at face value.”