Closing the Strait of Hormuz poses the risk of a global energy crisis, with oil prices already rising and shortages reported by several countries.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Thursday that Iran has allowed “friendly countries” such as India, Pakistan, Iraq, China and Russia to use the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway in the Gulf that has taken center stage amid the ongoing Iran-US war.
The Iranian Consulate General in Mumbai said in a post: “Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi: We allowed passage through the Strait of Hormuz to friendly countries including China, Russia, India, Iraq and Pakistan.” Track live updates on the Middle East war
Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz threatens to create a global energy crisis with oil prices already rising and shortages reported by several countries. As the Strait of Hormuz has become a point of contention between the United States and Iran, it has also been mentioned in Tehran’s demands for an end to hostilities. The demands put forward by Iran came in response to US President Donald Trump’s 15-point peace plan.
Read also: What do the United States and Iran want in light of the looming uncertainty over negotiations amid the war? List of demands
Among several demands, Tehran also wants international recognition and guarantees for Iran’s rights to exercise its sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz. Earlier, Trump claimed that he and the Ayatollah would jointly control the Strait of Hormuz, a claim rejected by Iran.
The government says Indian ships are safe amid the raging war
The Ministry of Shipping on Tuesday assured that all Indian ships and sailors in the Gulf region are safe amid global concerns over disruption in power supply.
Speaking at an inter-ministerial press conference in the national capital, Special Secretary, Ministry of Shipping, Rajesh Sinha said that the two Indian-flagged LPG tankers, Pine Gas and Jag Vasant, have already safely crossed the Strait of Hormuz and are on their way to India.
“All Indian ships and sailors in the Gulf region are safe. No maritime incidents have been reported in the last 24 hours. Late yesterday evening, the two Indian-flagged LPG tankers, Pine Gas and Jag Vasant, were loaded with LPG. The two ships safely crossed the Strait of Hormuz and are heading towards India,” Sinha said.
Calls to open the Strait of Hormuz
Global bodies, including the United Nations, are calling for the opening of Hormuz as fuel prices rise globally. The prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz is stifling the movement of oil, gas and fertilizer at a “critical moment in the global farming season,” said António Guterres, UN Secretary-General.
“Across the region and beyond, civilians are suffering massive harm and living under profound insecurity,” he said on the
Earlier on March 25, the Iranian mission in New York said it would allow what it called “non-hostile ships” to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
The mission announced in a post on the
Iran’s Defense Council announced that the passage of “non-hostile ships” through the strategic Strait of Hormuz is now strictly dependent on “prior coordination with Iranian officials.”
Iran’s plan to subject the Strait of Hormuz to duties
The Iranian parliament is reportedly working on a draft law to impose fees for providing security to ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. The plan is likely to be finalized, according to the semi-official Fars News Agency, next week. “We are seeking a proposal whereby Iran’s sovereignty, control and supervision over the Strait of Hormuz would be formally recognized in law, and through the collection of fees, a source of income would also be created for the country,” Fars quoted one of the lawmakers as saying.
