Iran Warns Ships from Countries Complying with US Sanctions Will Face Difficulties in Hormuz
by Hwang Jin HyunPosted : May 11, 2026, 03:37Updated : May 11, 2026, 03:37
Iranian soldiers stand in front of a photo of the new Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei. [Photo=EPA·Yonhap]
Iran's military has warned that vessels from countries adhering to U.S. sanctions against Iran will face challenges in passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
On May 10, Mohammad Akraminia, a spokesperson for the Iranian Army, stated in an interview with the state-run IRNA news agency that countries imposing sanctions on Iran following the U.S. precedent will undoubtedly encounter difficulties in navigating the Strait of Hormuz.
Akraminia claimed that due to military confrontations with the U.S. and Israel, Iran has no choice but to leverage the "geopolitical potential" of the Strait of Hormuz. He emphasized that Iran is currently exercising its sovereignty over the waterway.
He added that all vessels wishing to transit the strait must now coordinate their actions with Iran, suggesting that this move could provide significant advantages to the country.
The spokesperson also indicated that if adversaries were to attack Iran again, the country would respond with new means. He warned that any renewed aggression against Iran would face a "surprising response," which would include new weapons, tactics, and battlefields.
Amid these tensions, military strains surrounding the Strait of Hormuz are escalating once more. According to TASS news agency, on the night of May 7, tensions rose as the U.S. and Iran exchanged attacks in the Gulf region. Iranian state television reported that the U.S. attacked an Iranian oil tanker, prompting Iran to claim it retaliated by targeting three U.S. destroyers near the Strait of Hormuz.
Additionally, reports have emerged that Iran has deployed lightweight submarines for the first time to control shipping in the Strait amid its ongoing conflict with the U.S. According to semi-official Mehr news agency, Rear Admiral Shahram Irani, commander of the Iranian Navy, stated that the deployment of submarines is being increased in response to the threats, capabilities, and needs in the Strait of Hormuz.
Irani referred to the Iranian submarines as the "dolphins of the Persian Gulf," emphasizing that their primary capability is to operate stealthily in the depths of the strait and intercept and sink all types of hostile vessels.
This development indicates Iran's intention to use its control over the Strait of Hormuz as leverage in negotiations for a ceasefire with the U.S.
