The statement, Iran’s first reaction to the suspension, did not specify what the new procedures entailed and thanked owners and captains of ships for respecting Iranian regulations when moving through the waterway.
“We thank captains & shipowners in Persian Gulf & Gulf of Oman for complying with Iran’s Strait of Hormuz regulations & contributing to regional maritime security,” the navy said, on X.
“With aggressor’s threats neutralised & new protocols in place, safe, stable passage through SOH will be ensured.”
US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday (Wednesday AEST) he had paused the effort to guide stranded commercial vessels from the Strait of Hormuz in order to finalise a deal with Iran to end the war. He said the US blockade of Iranian ports would continue.
Posting on Truth Social, he said the decision was taken “Based on the request of Pakistan and other Countries, the tremendous Military Success that we have had” and progress towards a final agreement.
Early on Wednesday (just before 10pm AEST), he threatened Iran with resumed and strengthened bombing attacks if it didn’t agree.
“Assuming Iran agrees to give what has been agreed to, which is, perhaps, a big assumption, the already legendary Epic Fury will be at an end, and the highly effective Blockade will allow the Hormuz Strait to be OPEN TO ALL, including Iran,” he said.
“If they don’t agree, the bombing starts, and it will be, sadly, at a much higher level and intensity than it was before.”
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment offering further detail.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said earlier that major US military operations against Iran were over and Iran must agree to US demands on its nuclear program and reopen the strait, a waterway vital to global oil and gas supplies.
Rubio said recent clashes with Iran related to US efforts to reopen the strait were “defensive in nature”.
Only two vessels were known to have passed through the strait under what Trump termed “Project Freedom”.
