Iran has said commercial vessels can now pass safely through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, following what it described as the removal of security threats in the area.
In a statement on Wednesday, the naval arm of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said “safe and stable transit” would be ensured, hours after the United States suspended a short-lived naval escort operation.
The IRGC added: “With aggressor threats neutralised and new protocols in place, safe, stable passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be ensured.” It also thanked ship operators for complying with its regulations, while warning that vessels carrying weapons to US forces could be denied passage.
The announcement came after US President Donald Trump said he was pausing “Project Freedom”, a Pentagon-backed effort to escort commercial ships through the narrow waterway. The operation had been presented by Washington as critical to protecting thousands of sailors but was halted less than a day after it began.
A senior US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the pause was intended to “create space for urgent diplomatic engagement and reduce the risk of further escalation in the Gulf.”
Washington is now awaiting Tehran’s response to a proposed agreement, with both sides discussing a preliminary framework aimed at reopening the route. Officials say a reply is expected within 48 hours.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important energy corridors, carrying around a fifth of global oil supplies.
Commercial traffic has been severely disrupted since late February due to rising tensions.
