On Thursday, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy announced that vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz must take two alternative routes near the Iranian coast, citing potential mines on the usual path. The Mehr News agency, citing a military statement accompanied by a sea map showing the routes south and north of Kharg Island, stated: "To protect against possible collisions with mines, in coordination with the Revolutionary Guard Navy (...) vessels will be required to take alternative routes through the Strait of Hormuz until further notice". The United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire on Tuesday, less than an hour before the deadline set by US President Donald Trump to destroy the Islamic Republic unless it complies with his demands to reach an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. On Wednesday, the first day of the ceasefire's implementation, traffic in the Strait of Hormuz continued at a slow pace, with two ships from the Gulf crossing in the morning, while a third was en route, according to data from a maritime tracking website.
