Iran Violates Own Pledges as IRGC Forces Eight Ships to Turn Back

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps turned back at least eight vessels on July 4, marking an operational escalation during Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's funeral. This directly contradicts the June 17 memorandum of understanding, in which Tehran committed to restore normal transit traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and hold off on toll collection for 60 days. Marine Traffic data shows the agreement has become, as The Guardian notes, "a loose guideline of objectives as opposed to a rigid set of enforceable rules."