Iran has stated that “non-hostile vessels” may transit the Strait of Hormuz if they comply with safety and security regulations in coordination with the relevant authorities, according to a statement released to the International Maritime Organization.
“Non-hostile vessels… may — provided that they neither participate in nor support acts of aggression against Iran and fully comply with the declared safety and security regulations — benefit from safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz in coordination with the competent authorities,” the statement said.
The IMO said on Tuesday that the communique, dated Sunday, was issued by Iran’s foreign ministry and requested to be circulated by the IMO. It was shared with member states and NGOs.
The statement emphasised that “vessels, equipment and any assets belonging to the aggressor parties — namely, the United States and Israel — as well as other participants in the aggression do not qualify for innocent or non-hostile passage.”
Iran added that responsibility for “any disruption, insecurity or escalation of risks in this critical waterway” lies with the United States and Israel, which it accused of waging an “unlawful and destabilising war against Iran". Both countries, it said, had “endangered regional peace and stability and exposed international shipping to unprecedented threats".
The country has effectively closed the vital strait since the US-Israeli strikes that began the war on 28 February, causing global oil and gas prices to surge.
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