Iran said that foreign vessels may transit the Strait of Hormuz provided they do not take part in activities that Tehran deems acts of aggression against the country and comply with the regulations it has established.
This position was set out in a letter circulated on Tuesday among members of the International Maritime Organization. The document notes that states may benefit from safe passage “in coordination with the competent Iranian authorities.” According to the organization, the letter is dated March 22.
According to sources familiar with the matter, Iran has begun charging transit fees on some commercial vessels passing through the strait, underscoring its control over a critical global energy artery. Against the backdrop of the war in the Middle East, traffic along this route has all but come to a halt—only a handful of vessels continue to pass, choosing a path that hugs the Iranian coastline.
The letter states: “Non-hostile vessels, including those belonging to or associated with other states, 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 Iranian authorities.”
Tehran also said it had “restricted the passage of vessels belonging to or associated with the aggressors, as well as those involved in their actions.”
The document stresses that the full restoration of safety and stability in the strait will only be possible if military threats in the region cease.