Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said ships should avoid the main navigation zone and instead follow designated entry and exit paths to reduce the risk of collision with naval mines.

“All ships intending to transit the Strait of Hormuz are hereby notified they should take alternative routes for traffic,” the statement said, emphasizing maritime safety concerns.

The announcement follows Tehran’s agreement to temporarily reopen the strategic strait as part of a two-week truce reached with Washington. The ceasefire was agreed late Tuesday, shortly before a deadline set by U.S. President Donald Trump for Iran to comply with demands related to the reopening of the passage.

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical global energy corridor, through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply typically passes.

Iran had effectively restricted traffic through the route since early March, contributing to a surge in global energy prices and heightening concerns over supply disruptions.

The designation of alternative routes signals continued operational risks in the waterway despite the ceasefire, underlining the fragile security environment and the potential for further disruption to global shipping and energy markets.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump warned Tehran to restore access to the strategic shipping lane, which Iran has effectively closed since hostilities intensified. “Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!!” he wrote, linking potential military action directly to the disruption of maritime traffic through the strait.

The president’s remarks, delivered in forceful language, underscored the growing pressure on Iran amid ongoing military exchanges. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical artery for global energy supplies, and its closure has heightened concerns over disruptions to oil shipments and broader economic repercussions.

Trump also said he would hold a news conference on Monday in the Oval Office following a U.S. military operation that rescued two American pilots whose aircraft had been downed in Iran. Details of the rescue mission were not elaborated in the statement.

The threat of strikes on infrastructure marks a potential widening of targets beyond military assets, signaling an escalation in U.S. strategy as tensions persist in the region. Iran has not publicly responded to Trump’s latest warning.

The developments come amid continued fighting involving U.S. and Israeli forces and Iranian targets, with both sides reporting damage to infrastructure and military assets over the past month.

The refinery attack triggered fires that emergency and firefighting teams were working to contain, the company said in a statement carried by state media. No injuries were reported, and operations were being monitored closely, including air quality in surrounding areas, which officials said showed no immediate environmental impact.

Earlier, Kuwait’s military said its air defense systems were engaging incoming missile and drone threats.

The Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy said a separate strike hit a power and desalination plant, causing material damage to parts of the facility. Emergency teams were deployed under contingency plans to maintain operations and secure infrastructure.

Kuwait has faced repeated missile and drone attacks since the outbreak of conflict involving Iran and its regional adversaries, increasing pressure on critical energy and utility infrastructure.

The latest strikes highlight the growing risk to energy supply chains and essential services in the Gulf, even as authorities seek to contain damage and maintain operational continuity.

In a prime-time address, Trump said the United States would “hit” Iran hard over the next two to three weeks while asserting that core military objectives were nearing completion.

However, the absence of a defined endgame unsettled investors and raised concerns about prolonged disruption to global energy supplies.

South AfricaBenchmark crude prices jumped around 5%, climbing above $106 per barrel, while equity markets declined across major regions as traders reacted to continued uncertainty over the conflict and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global oil shipments.

Trump reiterated that U.S. forces were “on track” to complete their objectives “very shortly,” and said Iran had been “essentially decimated,” while warning that further escalation remained possible if Tehran did not meet U.S. demands.

He also suggested potential strikes on key infrastructure, including energy facilities. Despite the aggressive rhetoric, diplomatic prospects remain limited. A senior Iranian source told Reuters that Tehran is seeking a guaranteed ceasefire before halting attacks and confirmed that no indirect talks on a temporary truce have taken place.

The ongoing conflict, which began after U.S.-Israeli strikes on Feb. 28, has disrupted global oil flows and heightened geopolitical risk across the Middle East. Iran’s effective blockade of Hormuz has constrained shipments that typically account for about one-fifth of global oil and gas trade, amplifying volatility in energy markets.

Market participants said Trump’s speech failed to reassure investors seeking clarity on how and when the conflict might end, with uncertainty over supply disruptions and military escalation continuing to drive price swings.

International financial institutions, including the International Monetary Fund, World Bank and International Energy Agency, have warned that the war is having significant and uneven global economic impacts, particularly on energy-importing countries.

Speaking on a Fuji TV programme, Motegi said minesweeping could be an option if naval mines obstruct shipping lanes following a “complete ceasefire,” stressing that any such step would depend on conditions stabilising in the waterway, a conduit for roughly a fifth of global oil shipments.

Japan’s potential involvement would be constrained by its postwar pacifist constitution, which restricts military activity abroad. However, security legislation enacted in 2015 allows overseas deployment of the Self-Defense Forces if a crisis threatens Japan’s survival and no alternative measures are available.

Motegi said Tokyo had no immediate plans to pursue arrangements to secure passage specifically for Japanese vessels, but emphasised the importance of restoring safe navigation through the strait. Japan relies on the route for around 90% of its oil imports, leaving it highly exposed to disruptions.

The near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz amid the ongoing conflict has contributed to a surge in global oil prices, prompting Japan and other countries to release crude from strategic reserves.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Japan’s Kyodo news agency he had discussed with Motegi the possibility of allowing Japan-linked vessels to transit the strait.U.S. President Donald Trump has urged allies, including Japan, to increase their role in securing the waterway, though Tokyo has so far signalled limits based on its legal framework.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said she had briefed Trump on the scope of support Japan could provide under domestic law.

Separately, Motegi said one of two Japanese nationals detained in Iran had been released on Wednesday and would return to Japan. He said the release followed repeated diplomatic representations to Tehran, while confirming that a second Japanese citizen remains in custody.