Ships shift to Iran-designated route in Strait of Hormuz after IRGC warnings

According to a report by CNN, an increasing number of commercial ships are redirecting their routes toward the Iran-designated shipping lane in the Strait of Hormuz following warnings from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy. The maritime analytics firm Windward reported that, despite U.S. efforts to influence navigation in the strategic waterway, vessels attempting to use the southern shipping route through the strait have been changing course after receiving radio warnings from the IRGC.

Windward's maritime AI data showed that two vessels shifted from the so-called "Omani corridor" to the Iranian shipping route since the previous day, while four other vessels turned back toward the Persian Gulf. Earlier, Bloomberg had reported that eight vessels attempted to use the U.S.-backed route before abruptly changing course, with several opting to transit via the Iranian route. The report was also supported by satellite imagery from MarineTraffic.

Windward stated that the course changes coincided with the presence of IRGC patrol boats, adding that the IRGC Navy has been issuing radio warnings to vessels attempting to use routes other than Iran's designated safe shipping lane. The company's data identified the two vessels that switched to Iranian waters as a chemical tanker bound for Kandla Port in India and a crude oil tanker headed for Fujairah. The four vessels that abandoned the Omani corridor and returned to the Persian Gulf included a bulk carrier, a car carrier, an oil tanker, and an Iranian-flagged vessel operating without an international identification number.

According to the report by Mehr News Agency (MNA), the developments highlight the ongoing tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments, where Iran and the United States have competing interests regarding maritime security and freedom of navigation.