List of Countries Whose Tanker Ships Are Permitted to Pass Through the Strait of Hormuz

Iran’s authorities continue to impose a selective blockade policy in the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically vital sea route that serves as the lifeline for approximately one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas supply. Navigation access in this area is specifically restricted based on the country of origin affiliation of the vessels, with fleets from nations in conflict with Tehran prohibited from passing, while limited access is granted to neutral countries, including Indonesia. Regarding developments on the Indonesian fleet, the Iranian government has given the green light. Based on an official statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia (Kemlu RI), this approval is the result of intensive coordination between Kemlu RI, the Indonesian Embassy in Tehran (KBRI Teheran), Pertamina, the Iranian Embassy in Jakarta, and relevant authorities in Tehran. The Iranian government has conveyed positive considerations regarding security guarantees for the passage of Pertamina Group’s vessel fleet through the Strait of Hormuz. Nevertheless, the passage cannot yet be carried out directly. Kemlu RI notes that follow-up to Iran’s positive response still requires operational technical readiness from Pertamina, which includes resolving shipping insurance protection as well as crew readiness. Kemlu RI and KBRI Teheran emphasise that they will continue to coordinate with all relevant parties to ensure the smooth and secure passage of Pertamina’s fleet in the area. In the Asian region, several countries have been observed to have obtained special permissions to operate their fleets. China has received full security guarantees from Tehran for all its tanker ships, although there was a delay in departures over the weekend due to technical reasons. Additionally, countries such as Pakistan, India, and Malaysia have also secured similar permissions after bilateral communications with Iranian authorities. On the other hand, different treatment is applied to European countries. To date, Spain is the only country in that region to have received passage permission because it is deemed to continue complying with international law and maintaining a neutral stance. Meanwhile, access requests from France and Italy have reportedly not yet received official approval from the Iranian side. The following is an update on the detailed status of commercial vessel permissions based on the country of origin crossing the Strait of Hormuz based on the latest information as of Saturday (28/3/2026).