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.

Speaking on a Fuji TV programme, Motegi said such a move would be contingent on a “complete ceasefire” and the presence of naval mines obstructing navigation. He described the scenario as hypothetical, adding that minesweeping could be considered if maritime protection conditions required it.

Japan’s ability to deploy forces overseas is restricted by its postwar pacifist constitution, though security legislation enacted in 2015 allows the use of the Self-Defense Forces if an attack on a close partner threatens Japan’s survival and no alternative measures are available.

Motegi said Tokyo has no immediate plans to negotiate specific arrangements for stranded Japanese vessels to transit the waterway, stressing instead the importance of restoring conditions that allow safe passage for all ships.

Japan relies on the Strait of Hormuz for roughly 90% of its oil imports, underscoring the strategic importance of the route. The strait has been largely closed by Iran during the ongoing conflict, now in its fourth week, contributing to a surge in global oil prices.

The disruption has prompted Japan and other countries to release oil from strategic reserves to stabilise supply.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Friday he had discussed with Motegi the possibility of allowing Japanese-linked vessels to pass through the strait, according to Japan’s Kyodo news agency.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump met Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in Washington on Thursday and urged Japan to increase its role in efforts to reopen the waterway. Takaichi said she briefed Trump on the scope of support Japan could provide under its legal framework.