• Iran's Revolutionary Guards Navy claims a surge in vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz in the past two weeks, blaming U.S. actions for disrupting normalization efforts.
  • The announcement escalates tensions at the strategic chokepoint, raising the risk of supply disruptions and higher oil prices.
  • The move underscores Tehran's push to formalize control over strait transit, complicating international freedom of navigation.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Navy said on Thursday that Tehran has significantly increased vessel transit through the Strait of Hormuz over the last two weeks, and accused the United States of “seriously disrupting” the process of reopening the waterway to normal traffic. The statement, carried by the semi-official Tasnim news agency, marks a sharp escalation in rhetoric around the strategic chokepoint, through which about a fifth of the world’s oil passes.

“In the past 14 days, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy has overseen a noticeable rise in the number of ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, despite continued U.S. interference,” the Guards Navy said in a statement. “The hostile actions of the United States have seriously disrupted the reopening process and threaten the stability of regional navigation.”

The Guards did not provide specific figures on vessel numbers or detail what U.S. actions they were referring to. However, the remarks come amid heightened U.S.-Iran tensions over sanctions enforcement and naval patrols in the Persian Gulf. Washington has long accused Tehran of harassing commercial shipping and seeking to control access to the strait, while Iran denies the charges and says it is protecting its sovereign rights.

The Strait of Hormuz has been a flashpoint for years, with periodic incidents of Iranian forces seizing or inspecting tankers. More recently, Iran has moved to formalize oversight of the waterway, including proposals to create a state authority to vet and tax vessels, according to people familiar with the matter. The latest statements suggest Tehran is pushing ahead with those plans despite international opposition.

“This is a clear attempt by Iran to assert greater control over the strait, using the pretext of security,” said a senior Gulf-based shipping executive, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters. “If they succeed, it could fundamentally alter the economics of oil shipping through the region.”

Oil prices edged higher on the news, with Brent crude rising 0.8% to $84.50 a barrel in afternoon trading. Analysts said the market is pricing in a higher risk premium given the potential for disruption. “Any credible threat to the Strait of Hormuz sends shivers through the oil market,” said a London-based energy analyst. “Even if the actual flow isn’t affected, the psychological impact is immediate.”

The international community has been watching developments closely. A spokesperson for the U.S. Fifth Fleet, based in Bahrain, said the U.S. Navy remains committed to ensuring freedom of navigation. “We are aware of the Iranian statement and are monitoring the situation,” the spokesperson said. “We will not allow any actor to disrupt the lawful transit of commercial vessels through international waters.”

Efforts to reach the Iranian mission to the United Nations for further comment were unsuccessful.

The situation remains fluid, with traders and shippers bracing for potential volatility. Some analysts caution that Iran’s formalization of transit rules could reduce uncertainty if implemented predictably, but others warn it could deter commercial traffic if terms are viewed as coercive.

Correction: An earlier version of this article misstated the timing of the Iranian statement; it was released Thursday, not Wednesday. This version has been corrected.