Iran issues new warning for ships to use the roads Tehran approved in the Strait of Hormuz

Any disrespect of this warning “will face an immediate and determined response from the armed forces, endangering the safety of ships violating that order”, Iran's joint military command warned in a statement, according to the semi-official Fars news agency.

Rounding through the straits has already been divided on several roads along the Iranian coast, another off the coast of Oman, and a third, used before the war, passing through the middle of the strait.

Iran has tried to discourage ships from using the last two roads, as they weaken its control over the strait. On Thursday, the country's Revolutionary Guard warned ships crossing this waterway that it will be “responsible for any consequences of” if they use other ways.

The status of this water route, through which one fifth of the world's oil supply and liquid natural gas, has become one of the main obstacles to negotiations between Iran and the United States.

This latest warning comes a day after the US Central Command (CENTCOM) met in Bahrain with representatives of the 12 Middle East countries. During that meeting, they “discussed the current security situation in the region” and “highlighted their common commitment to free flow of trade through the Strait of Hormuz”, a CENTCOM statement said.