Iran reopens Strait of Hormuz traffic for selected nations

Iran’s elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has announced that the strategic Strait of Hormuz will remain closed to vessels from the United States, Israel, their European allies, and associated partner nations.

Ships from countries outside this bloc face no restrictions, the IRGC said.

Brigadier General Kioumars Heydari, IRGC spokesperson, confirmed the decision to semi-official Tasnim News Agency.

Linking the Arabian Sea and the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz is a crucial route for global energy trade, with about 20 per cent of the world’s daily oil and liquefied natural gas shipments passing through it. Often described as the “gateway of global energy,” the strait is key to exporting Middle Eastern oil to Western markets.

Following the outbreak of hostilities with the United States and Israel on February 28, the IRGC issued warnings to crews navigating the strait and carried out attacks on several vessels.

According to British maritime monitoring group UK Maritime Operations, at least ten oil tankers have been targeted since February 28.