Iran's IRGC Spokesperson: Any vessel violating Iran's rules will be stopped by force

AI summary

<p>A spokesperson for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) declared that any vessel violating the Islamic Republic’s maritime rules will be stopped by force. The warning, delivered through the state-linked Fars News Agency, serves as a direct challenge to a newly unveiled American initiative designed to break the maritime deadlock in the region. </p><p>This comes in immediate response to an announcement from US President Trump, who announced on his Truth Social account Operation Project Freedom. Framing the mission as a humanitarian gesture, Trump stated that the United States would begin guiding neutral commercial vessels safely out of the Strait of Hormuz starting today.</p><p>According to the President, these ships, many of which have been stranded for weeks due to a naval blockade and ongoing regional hostilities, are running low on food and essential supplies. He characterized the crews as innocent bystanders caught in a conflict they did not create and insisted that the US move is an act of goodwill intended to free people and companies that are "victims of circumstance".</p><p>Despite the humanitarian framing, the operation carries a heavy military weight. Trump issued a blunt ultimatum alongside the plan, warning that any interference with the process would be dealt with forcefully. This "safe passage" initiative seeks to bypass a new maritime regime announced by Iran, which requires vessels to seek explicit permission and follow strict Iranian regulations