Iran warns oil tankers to use approved routes in Strait of Hormuz or face a 'forceful response'

Iran's military command has warned all oil tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz to follow its approved routes or face an 'immediate and forceful response,' significantly escalating tensions in one of the world's most critical energy shipping lanes. Ship traffic remains well below pre-war levels, with routes being chosen on an hour-by-hour basis amid Iranian strikes on commercial vessels and ongoing geopolitical negotiations.