Iran threatens to close unauthorized shipping routes in the Strait of Hormuz

Mohammadreza Naqdi, an adviser to the commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, announced on Wednesday that Iran intends to close specific transit routes in the Strait of Hormuz, claiming they are illegal and used for oil smuggling. The IRGC asserts full control over the waterway and states that the closure will remain in effect until the Islamic Republic's demands are met. This follows reports of a significant increase in attacks on oil tankers in the region, which has led to a decline in shipping activity to a two-month low.

Tehran has warned regional neighbors that any effort to establish new export routes will be treated as a hostile act. Sources indicate that Iran’s leadership, including both political figures and the Revolutionary Guards, is prepared to use missiles, drones, and intimidation tactics to enforce this policy. While Kpler data recorded a seven-day moving average of 18.3 million barrels per day in crude exports as of September 30, the ongoing threats and recent spike in tanker attacks have created substantial instability, contradicting claims that Gulf oil exports are successfully returning to pre-war levels.