India, Five Others Designated as Iran’s “Friendly Nations” for Hormuz Passage
Tehran says the Strait of Hormuz will remain open for certain countries despite the wider Middle East conflict. The waterway carries about one-fifth of the world’s oil. Tehran stresses selective transit, not a blanket closure.
Official stance and coordination
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi spoke on state television about passage permissions. Filmogaz.com reported his comments. He said the strait is not fully closed.
Shipowners and flag states have contacted Tehran to seek safe transit. Iran says it has allowed passage after coordination. The armed forces have escorted some vessels.
Countries granted access
Iran named several states with coordinated clearances. They include China, Russia, Pakistan, Iraq, India and Bangladesh. Iran has designated India and five others as “friendly nations” for Hormuz passage.
Restrictions and denied passage
Tehran said vessels tied to perceived adversaries will be refused transit. It identified the United States, Israel and some Gulf states as excluded. The government described the region as a war zone warranting those limits.
Recent enforcement actions
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reported intercepting a container ship this week. The Pakistan-bound vessel SELEN reversed course near the strait. Iranian authorities said the ship lacked transit authorization.
Iran is using drones and missiles in the area to control movements. Those actions are part of its wider maritime posture.
Impact on global trade and energy
Disruptions have reduced flows of oil and liquefied natural gas. Global fuel supplies face strain, with knock-on price and supply effects. Businesses from airlines to retailers report higher costs and supply disruptions.
Some governments are considering fiscal and support measures last used during the COVID pandemic. The disruption has raised questions about supply chain resilience.
Shipping statistics
The strait normally sees roughly 120 daily transits, industry data shows. Between March 1 and 25, analytics firm Kpler recorded 155 crossings. That represented a roughly 95 percent fall in daily energy shipments.
Of those 155 passages, 99 were oil tankers or gas carriers. Most of those vessels were heading east out of the gulf. On one recent Wednesday, just two ships were detected, both moving west.
