Iran warns ships not to bypass its Strait of Hormuz route as US strikes continue

Iran's foreign minister warned on Sunday that any attempt by shipping to bypass its preferred route through the Strait of Hormuz would increase tensions in the Middle East. The warning came as U.S. and Iranian forces traded fresh strikes across the vital seaway, underscoring the fragility of the Pakistan-brokered ceasefire agreement reached in April. The exchanges rattled global energy markets already strained by months of conflict.

Can Iran shut down the Strait of Hormuz?

Iran has not closed the Strait of Hormuz but has asserted control over which shipping corridor vessels must use. A fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas passes through the strait in normal times. Tehran insists ships transit through a corridor close to its own shores, and its Revolutionary Guards have warned that vessels violating those measures will be dealt with more firmly.

What did Iran's foreign minister say about the Strait of Hormuz?

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi urged all parties to adhere to the existing memorandum of understanding and warned against any deviation. "Any attempt to adopt new or separate arrangements compared to what is underway by the Islamic Republic of Iran will only lead to more complicated situations and delays in the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and will increase the tensions," he said. Iran's Revolutionary Guards separately said on Sunday they were taking active measures to control traffic in the strait.

This week, dozens of vessels travelled along the Omani coast rather than the Iranian-designated corridor, prompting Tehran's response. Mohammad Mokhber, adviser to Iran's supreme leader, wrote on X that Washington's "hegemonic dreams in the region will not be realised" as long as Iran managed the strait. Under the memorandum of understanding reached this month, Iran agreed to safe passage of commercial vessels for 60 days only.

Has Iran hit ships in the Strait of Hormuz?

U.S. Central Command said on Sunday it had struck 10 Iranian military targets in response to continued Iranian aggression against commercial shipping. The strikes followed an Iranian drone attack on the Panama-flagged oil tanker Kiku. Washington carried out similar strikes on Friday, and Iran responded with retaliatory strikes against U.S. bases in Kuwait and Bahrain, which both countries denounced.

U.S. President Donald Trump warned on Saturday that Iran would "no longer exist" if the U.S. were forced to resume the war. Both countries have traded accusations of violating their fragile ceasefire since it took effect in April. Experts said more Hormuz incidents were likely, with one analyst noting that a drawn-out negotiation accompanied by controlled pressure in the strait could work to Iran's advantage.

What is happening between Israel and Lebanon?

Israel launched strikes in Lebanon on Sunday after Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem rejected a deal to end that conflict. Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah warned of internal conflict in Lebanon over the country's agreement with Israel, signed this week, and predicted the deal would not be implemented. The agreement includes plans to disarm the Iran-backed group.

Lebanon was drawn into the broader Middle East war in early March, when Hezbollah launched rockets at Israel in support of Iran. Iran called Israel's latest strikes a blatant violation of the truce deal. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon was an essential condition for reaching a final and lasting regional agreement.