Tehran, Iran – Web Desk: Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has announced that it will enforce new rules in the waters off Iran’s coast in the Arabian Sea and the Strait of Hormuz, vowing to transform the strategic waterway into a source of “security and prosperity.”
In a statement issued by the IRGC Navy Command, the force declared that it will maintain control over approximately 2,000 kilometers (1,243 miles) of Iran’s coastline along the Arabian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.
“We will make these waters a source of pride and power for the beloved people of Iran, and a source of security and prosperity for the region,” the statement read.
The announcement comes as tensions remain high following nine weeks of US-Israeli war against Iran, with a fragile ceasefire in place for over three weeks.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has stated that he does not agree with the proposals put forward by Iran, adding that a decision must now be made between war or a diplomatic solution.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that Iran is ready to keep the path of diplomacy open, but warned that the United States must change its threatening tone.
The IRGC’s latest declaration is likely to raise concerns among Gulf nations and global shipping companies, given the Strait of Hormuz’s critical role as a chokepoint for approximately 20 percent of the world’s oil supply.
No immediate response was issued by the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet, based in Bahrain, or by Gulf Cooperation Council member states.
