Iranian media reports over 350 ships awaiting permission to cross Strait of Hormuz

Tehran (ANTARA) - Iran’s semi-official news agency Fars reported on Thursday (26/3) that more than 350 ships are awaiting Iranian permission to cross the Strait of Hormuz, about 27 days after the start of the war by the United States (US) and Israel against Iran. Citing the latest reports and on-the-ground developments, Fars stated that the strategic waterway remains closed to the US, Israel, and their allies, with no ships permitted to pass without Iranian approval. According to Fars, the ships have been ordered to shut down their systems and remain in place. Among the waiting vessels are 25 large tankers (supertankers), 200 oil tankers, and 70 LNG and CNG carriers, Fars said, adding that without Iranian approval, these ships cannot proceed with their journeys or dock at regional ports, as the sea route remains under full control of Iran’s armed forces. In a post on the social media platform X on Tuesday (24/3), Alireza Tangsiri, commander of the Navy of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), stated that every ship crossing the Strait of Hormuz must fully coordinate with Iranian maritime authorities. On 28 February, Israel and the US launched a joint attack on Tehran and several other cities in Iran, killing Iran’s then-supreme leader Ali Khamenei, along with senior military commanders and civilians. Iran responded with waves of missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and US bases and assets in the Middle East, while tightening its control over the Strait of Hormuz by blocking ships owned by or affiliated with Israel and the US.