In a significant diplomatic development, Iran has asserted that the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz remains open to certain countries despite ongoing tensions in the Middle East. The waterway, through which approximately 20% of the world’s oil is transported, has been under Iranian control since recent hostilities escalated between Iran, the US, and Israel.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed on Iranian State TV that the Strait has not been fully closed. “Many shipowners and countries have contacted us requesting safe passage,” he stated, adding that Iran has facilitated transit for ships from nations including China, Russia, Pakistan, Iraq, India, and Bangladesh. “These countries have coordinated with us, and this cooperation will continue even after the war.”
However, Araghchi emphasized that vessels linked to adversarial countries or those involved in the conflict would not be permitted passage. “We are in a state of war. The region is a war zone, and there is no reason to allow the ships of our enemies and their allies to pass,” he said.
Earlier this week, Iran prevented a Pakistan-bound container ship, the SELEN, from crossing the Strait of Hormuz. The vessel, traveling from the UAE’s Sharjah to Karachi, was forced to reverse course at the entrance due to lack of transit authorization, according to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Iran has been exerting control over the Strait through drone and missile attacks on shipping routes, effectively closing the conduit for a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas. This has caused global fuel shortages and disrupted supply chains across industries, from airlines to supermarkets.
The conflict, which erupted after the US and Israel launched airstrikes against Iran last month, prompted Tehran to retaliate with regional strikes and tighten restrictions on the Strait. As a result, global energy shipping has plummeted by approximately 95%, with daily transits dropping from an average of around 120 to just 6 to 7 crossings in late March, according to industry sources.
Shipping data indicates that from March 1 to 25, only 155 vessels crossed the Strait—most heading east—compared to typical daily traffic. On Wednesday, just two ships were recorded crossing, both heading west. The ongoing blockade continues to have widespread economic repercussions worldwide.
