In a significant diplomatic development, Iran has included India among a select group of “friendly nations” whose vessels are being allowed safe passage through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, despite ongoing tensions in the Middle East. Reported by NDTV.
The strait—through which nearly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply typically flows—has been under tight Iranian control since the United States and Israel launched military strikes against Iran last month. However, Iran has clarified that the waterway is not entirely closed.
Speaking to Iranian State TV, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi dismissed claims of a complete shutdown and said certain countries have been granted access after coordination.
"Many of the shipowners, or the countries that own these vessels, have contacted us and requested that we ensure their safe passage through the strait. For some of these countries that we consider friendly, or in cases where we have decided to do so for other reasons, our armed forces have provided safe passage," Araghchi said, according to a report by Reuters.
"You have seen on the news: China, Russia, Pakistan, Iraq, and India. Two of its ships passed through a few nights ago, and some other countries, and even Bangladesh, I believe. These are countries that spoke with us and coordinated with us, and this will continue in the future as well, even after the war," he added.
‘No Entry For Enemies’
Araghchi also made it clear that countries considered adversaries will not be granted access to the strait.
"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 through. But it remains open to others," he said on Wednesday.
This comes after Iran recently halted a Pakistan-bound container ship, SELEN, which was traveling from Sharjah in the UAE to Karachi. The vessel was forced to turn back at the entrance of the strait due to a lack of transit authorization, according to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Iran continues to enforce its control over the waterway through drone and missile activity targeting shipping routes. The disruption has had a global impact, as the strait is a critical channel for oil and liquefied natural gas. As a result, supply chains have been strained, fuel shortages have emerged in several regions, and industries—from airlines to retail—are facing rising costs and weakening demand. Some governments are even considering support measures similar to those implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Shipping Sees Sharp Decline
The conflict, triggered by US and Israeli strikes on Iran and Tehran’s subsequent retaliation, has led to a dramatic slowdown in maritime traffic through the strait.
Typically handling around 120 ship transits per day, the waterway has seen a steep drop in activity. Between March 1 and 25, only 155 crossings were recorded, according to analytics firm Kpler—a decline of nearly 95 per cent.
Of these, 99 were oil and gas carriers, most heading eastward. On Wednesday, just two ships were recorded crossing the strait, both moving west.
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