Iran plans to soon close what it calls “illegal routes” through the Strait of Hormuz, according to an adviser to the commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards. The official said the routes, located along Oman’s coast, were created by damaging rocky passages and are being used by small boats to transfer oil to larger tankers.
The announcement comes as Iran continues to assert control over the strategic waterway, which is crucial for global oil shipments. Despite Gulf crude exports recovering during September, attacks on tankers and logistical problems continue to threaten the sustainability of those flows.
Reuters reports that crude exports from the region averaged 18.3 million barrels per day on Sept. 30, with volumes exceeding pre-war levels on 14 days in September. However, Iranian officials dispute claims that shipping through Hormuz has substantially recovered, saying average daily traffic has fallen from about 125 vessels before the war to around 10.
