EU Reports Signal of Shipping Ban in Strait of Hormuz; Iran Yet to Make Official Announcement
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps has been reported to have signalled that shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is not permitted. This information has triggered fresh concerns regarding the stability of the world’s most strategically vital energy corridor.
The European Union stated that vessels received VHF transmissions regarding the alleged ban, although Tehran has not issued an official announcement.
The Strait of Hormuz is the primary link between oil-producing nations in the Gulf, including Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, and the United Arab Emirates, and the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. This narrow passage serves as a vital artery for global energy exports.
An Iranian official stated that no official government announcement regarding the ban has been issued. However, the European Union’s naval mission, Aspides, on Saturday (28 February) reported that several vessels received VHF radio transmissions stating that no ships are permitted to transit the Strait of Hormuz.
Should such restrictions be genuinely implemented, the impact could be widespread on the global economy, particularly on oil prices and energy supply.
Lloyds List notes that crude oil and refined product shipments from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Iran, and portions of the United Arab Emirates transit the Strait of Hormuz daily. This volume represents approximately 30 per cent of global oil and petroleum product trade.
Additionally, roughly 20 per cent of global liquefied natural gas trade and one-third of global liquefied petroleum gas shipments also transit this passage.
Overall, energy traffic through the strait reaches approximately 30 to 33 million barrels of oil equivalent per day.
This situation adds to uncertainty in the international energy market amid escalating geopolitical tensions in the Gulf region.
This measure follows confirmation of the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Russia’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Vassily Nebenzia, has urged the United States and Israel to immediately cease aggressive actions against Iran, which he argues is worsening regional tensions.
Migrant Care has expressed deep concern over the outbreak of war in the Middle East.
Close family members of Ali Hosseini Khamenei have reportedly been casualties in a combined Israeli-American strike, according to reports from the Fars News Agency.
The Strait of Hormuz has again become the focus of international geopolitical dynamics as tensions between Iran and the United States escalate. Tensions between the two nations have increased following an F-35C fighter jet shooting down an Iranian drone approaching USS Abraham Lincoln. Iran has also previously threatened to hijack oil tankers.
Iran has stated that it maintains full control over the land, maritime, and airspace of the Strait of Hormuz amid concerns about a potential American attack on Tehran.
US-Iran tensions have escalated. The Islamic Republic of Iran has formally issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) designating the airspace above the Strait of Hormuz as a “danger zone”.
Iran issued a flight warning or Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) concerning live-fire exercises in the airspace around the Strait of Hormuz, signalling an increase in military readiness.