TEHRAN — Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has announced that any Arab or European country that expels the ambassadors of the United States and Israel will be granted full freedom to transit the strategic Strait of Hormuz, in what appears to be a bid to reshape diplomatic alignments amid the ongoing regional war.
In a statement carried by Iranian state media, IRGC officials said the offer — which takes effect immediately — would allow nations that reject U.S. and Israeli diplomatic presence to navigate the vital waterway without restriction, effectively rewarding governments willing to distance themselves from Washington and Jerusalem.
“The rite of passage will be granted to any Arab or European country that expels U.S. and Israeli ambassadors from its territory,” the IRGC said, according to Tehran Times. The group described the move as part of Iran’s effort to assert control over the region’s political and strategic future, even as conflict with U.S. and Israeli forces continues across multiple fronts.
The Strait of Hormuz is a chokepoint for global energy supplies, with around one fifth of the world’s crude oil exports typically passing through it. Iran’s latest declaration — coming amid a near halt of commercial traffic through the strait due to the conflict — underscores Tehran’s leverage over international trade routes and its desire to influence diplomatic stances in the Middle East and Europe.
IRGC leaders also stressed that Tehran, not Washington, will determine when the region’s war ends, rejecting recent assertions by U.S. officials about a nearing conclusion to the conflict. The statement included a broader warning that Tehran may restrict oil exports to countries aligned with the United States and Israel if hostilities persist.
The announcement has raised immediate concerns among global energy markets and governments reliant on the Hormuz corridor, as the move ties access to critical shipping lanes directly to foreign diplomatic policies — a departure from traditional maritime norms and a potential flashpoint in the already volatile region.