Iran Plans to Block Illegal Hormuz Routes

An adviser to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps says Iran will soon close what it considers illegal routes through the Strait of Hormuz, particularly a southern passage near Oman. He alleges the passages were created by damaging rocky areas and are used by small boats to smuggle oil and transfer it to tankers. Iranian officials say the strait is closed and under the country’s control until its demands are met. The claims come amid mixed signals about shipping: regional crude exports rose in September, but an IRGC adviser said average daily transits remained far below prewar levels, while tanker attacks and logistical constraints continue to threaten sustained flows.