Iran has told the United Nations Security Council that “non-hostile vessels” may transit the Strait of Hormuz, provided they coordinate with Iranian authorities.
Reuters reported on Tuesday, March 24, citing a diplomatic note, that the message was also sent to the International Maritime Organization and circulated among its member states. It states that ships not participating in or supporting actions against Iran – and complying with safety regulations – may receive safe passage through the strategically vital waterway.
At the same time, Iran warned that vessels linked to the United States or Israel, or those involved in what Tehran calls “aggression,” would not qualify for safe transit.
The strait, which lies between Iran and Oman, normally carries about one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments. However, traffic has been severely disrupted amid the ongoing US-Israeli war against Iran, raising concerns over global energy supplies.
In its note, Iran said it had taken “necessary and proportionate measures” to prevent the waterway from being used for hostile operations, while leaving the door open for neutral shipping under its oversight.
On Tuesday US President Donald Trump said that Iran gave him a “very big present” related to the Strait of Hormuz, boosting his confidence that he was talking to the right people in Tehran to end the war.
“They did something yesterday that was amazing actually. They gave us a present and the present arrived today. And it was a very big present worth a tremendous amount of money,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.