Foreign container ship runs aground in Strait of Hormuz after deviating from Iran-approved route
Iranian state television said a foreign container vessel grounded in the Strait of Hormuz while using a route not authorized by Tehran, as diplomatic talks on a permanent cease-fire continue in Qatar.
A foreign container ship ran aground in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday after sailing a route that Iran had not approved, according to Tehran’s state television. The broadcaster said the vessel became stuck in shallow water and could not continue, urging shippers to follow the Revolutionary Guard’s instructions for the "Route of Authority" in the waterway.
The incident was reported amid ongoing diplomatic efforts in Doha, where U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and senior adviser Jared Kushner are meeting Qatari officials to discuss a permanent end to the conflict with Iran. Qatar’s foreign ministry confirmed the talks covered the interim shipping deal and broader regional security issues.
Iran and the United States have an interim agreement that allows ships to pass the strait without charges for 60 days, but Tehran insists on controlling vessel routes and later imposing fees, a point rejected by the United States and several Gulf states. Recent attacks on ships that ignored the Iranian-mandated route have heightened tensions.
Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf told state television that dialogue continues, adding that Iran is prepared for war if agreements are not implemented.
In related developments, Thailand reported that 10 of its 11 vessels have left the strait safely, and South Korea said most of its stranded ships have also departed.
