Iran Deploys Special Forces to Monitor Ship Traffic Near Oman and Strait of Hormuz

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has deployed special forces along its Persian Gulf coast to monitor and identify ships using the southern maritime route near Oman through the Strait of Hormuz. According to opposition channel Iran International, IRGC operatives are also gathering intelligence from Omani sources on ship schedules and coordination details for vessels passing through this southern corridor. The special forces are equipped with various intelligence-gathering tools, including land observation posts, maritime equipment, and aerial systems, tasked with preemptively identifying ships intending to use the southern route and issuing warnings.

The IRGC has emphasized that only routes approved by the Islamic Republic are authorized for passage through the Strait of Hormuz. It has warned international vessels against using the southern corridor, which runs near Omani waters and is recommended by Oman and the International Maritime Organization. This move comes amid ongoing negotiations, with Iran strengthening its identification and warning systems for ships not following Tehran-approved routes, a key point of contention between Iran and the United States.

Currently, three distinct routes exist through the Strait of Hormuz: the southern route near Omani waters, the middle route used before the war, and the northern route under Iranian control. Ships using non-Iranian routes risk attacks, while those using the Iranian route face potential exposure to Western sanctions if agreements collapse. An intelligence analyst told CNN that if disputes remain unresolved by mid-August, navigation through all three routes could become increasingly chaotic and unsafe.