Iran: Strait of Hormuz Open for Transit, Except for US-Israel Ships

Tehran (ANTARA) - Iran has taken steps to ensure that transit ships not affiliated with the United States (US) or Israel can pass through the Strait of Hormuz, said Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Monday (23/3). “Iran has taken steps to ensure the safety of shipping through this waterway and will carry out the necessary coordination for ships not affiliated with the aggressor parties,” Pezeshkian said in a telephone conversation with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, as quoted by his office. The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz was triggered by US and Israeli operations against Iran, the Iranian President stated. On Sunday, Iran’s permanent representative to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), Ali Mousavi, said all ships, except “enemy” ships, could pass through the Strait of Hormuz provided they coordinate with Iran. On 28 February, the US and Israel began attacking several targets in Iran, including in Tehran, which caused damage and killed civilians. Iran then launched retaliatory strikes on Israeli territory and US military targets in the Middle East. This escalation has led to a de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the main shipping route for oil and liquefied natural gas from Persian Gulf countries to global markets. The disruption has also affected oil exports and production in the region.