Araghchi further suggested that ships associated with rival nations or those participating in the current conflict would be denied transit.
In a major diplomatic victory, Iran has stated that the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz will remain open to India amidst the escalating conflict in the Middle East.
This waterway—the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which one-fifth of the world’s oil is typically transported—has effectively been under Iranian control since last month, when the U.S. and Israel initiated hostilities against Iran.
Speaking to Iranian state television, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi clarified that, contrary to claims made by Western media, the Strait has not been completely closed.
According to a Reuters report, Araqchi stated, “Many shipowners—or the nations that own these vessels—have contacted us requesting that we guarantee their safe passage through the Strait. For some of these nations—whom we consider friends—or in cases where we have decided to do so for other reasons, our military has provided safe passage.”
He added, “You may have seen it in the news: China, Russia, Pakistan, Iraq, and India. Two of their vessels passed through a few nights ago—as did ships from several other nations, including, I believe, Bangladesh. These are the countries that reached out to us and coordinated with us; this arrangement will continue in the future, even after the war.”
‘No Entry for Enemies’
Araqchi also signaled that vessels linked to nations deemed hostile—or those involved in the ongoing conflict—would not be granted permission to traverse the Strait. He stated that ships belonging to the U.S., Israel, and certain Gulf nations—all of whom are playing a role in the current crisis—would not be authorized to pass through the waterway.
Speaking on Wednesday, he said, “We are in a state of war. This region is a war zone, and there is no justification for allowing the vessels of our enemies—and their allies—to pass through here. However, it remains open to others.” Notably, earlier this week, Iran blocked a container ship bound for Pakistan from transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
According to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the vessel—the SELEN, which was traveling from Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates toward Karachi—was forced to alter its course at the entry point of the vital waterway due to the lack of transit authorization.
Iran maintains its stranglehold on the Strait through drone and missile attacks on shipping.
With the route for one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas now completely blocked, fuel shortages are emerging globally; businesses—ranging from airlines to supermarkets and used-car dealerships—are grappling with challenges such as rising costs, weakening demand, and supply chain disruptions.
Some governments are considering reimplementing support measures similar to those utilized during the COVID pandemic.
Shipping Halted
This conflict—triggered by U.S. and Israeli airstrikes against Iran—provoked Tehran to retaliate with attacks across the region and to move toward completely blocking access to the Strait.
This has resulted in a 95 percent decline in the daily shipment of energy resources through these vital waterways.
According to Lloyd’s List, a shipping industry intelligence site, this channel typically sees approximately 120 transits per day.
However, according to the analytics firm Kpler, commodity carriers completed only 155 crossings between March 1 and March 25—representing a 95 percent reduction.
Of these, 99 crossings were made by oil tankers and gas carriers, with the majority traveling eastward through the Strait. On Wednesday, only two vessels were observed traversing the Strait, both heading westward.