US EditionIran: Strait of Hormuz Open, But Not for ‘Iran’s Enemies'
Iran allows passage through the Strait of Hormuz except for vessels from 'enemy' states, affecting about 20% of global oil transit, amid a US 48-hour ultimatum for full reopening.
- On Mar 22, Iran's representative to the IMO said foreign vessels may navigate the Strait of Hormuz if they coordinate with Tehran, while President Donald Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum.
- Amid oil-price pressure, UN remarks stressed that Tehran said it would not shut the waterway, with Iran's ambassador to the UN, Amir Saeid Iravani, last week stating Tehran had no plans to do so.
- A two-track strategy preserves Tehran's leverage, restricting general access while India, Pakistan, Iraq, Malaysia and China negotiate transit through an IRGC-controlled corridor near Larak Island with at least one operator paying $2mn.
- Repeated attacks on energy facilities have raised shipping-safety concerns, with Iran's parliament speaker warning 'immediately after power plants and infrastructure in our country are targeted, critical infrastructure and energy and oil infrastructure across the entire region will be considered legitimate targets and will be irreversibly destroyed'.
- US defence intelligence agency assessed Iran could sustain a closure for one to six months, while Tehran warned it would bar oil shipments to 'enemy' vessels, risking prolonged supply disruptions.
18 Articles
18 Articles
Iran says Strait of Hormuz open to all except 'enemies,' state media, Iranian president say
ByKevin Shalvey, Jon Haworth, Nadine El-Bawab, and Meredith Deliso Last Updated: March 22, 2026, 10:06 AM MDT The Strait of Hormuz is open to everyone aside from Tehran’s "enemies," Iran’s representative to the International Maritime Organization, Ali Mousavi, told the semi-official Mehr News Agency on Sunday. "Passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz is possible with coordination for security and safety arrangements," Mousavi told Mehr in …
Iran: Strait of Hormuz Open, But Not for ‘Iran’s Enemies'
On Sunday, Iranian media cited Iran's representative to the U.N. maritime agency as saying the Strait of Hormuz would remain available for commercial traffic, with an exception for vessels tied to “Iran's enemies.” The stance lands as US President Donald Trump escalated pressure with a 48 hour ultimatum that called for the passage to be opened immediately and warned of strikes on Iranian power plants. Reuters reports the comments were attributed…
The Strait of Hormuz is navigable. This was reported by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. However, ‘hostile’ ships are exempt.
Iran's representative has stated to the International Maritime Organization that no ships other than those belonging to enemy nations will be harmed in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran also blamed the US and Israel for the current situation. Watch the video.
The Strait of Hormuz remains open to all vessels except those associated with “enemies of Iran”.
Most Gulf and European ships likely blocked from Hormuz despite Iran's 'open to all' claim
A Russian energy analyst says Iran's "open to all" Hormuz policy would in practice block most Gulf and European shipping, as Tehran keeps the definition of "enemy" vessels deliberately vague.
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