Iran Allows Select Nations Passage Through Strait of Hormuz Amid Ongoing Conflict

Tehran, March 2026: Amid escalating tensions in West Asia, Iran has announced that vessels from a group of “friendly” nations, including India, will be allowed to pass through the strategically significant Strait of Hormuz, even as restrictions remain in place for others.

According to Iranian authorities, ships from Russia, China, Pakistan and Iraq have also been granted safe transit through the vital maritime corridor, which is a key route for global energy supplies.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, speaking to state television, clarified that the strait has not been completely closed. He said the restrictions are selective and based on Iran’s diplomatic relations.

“There is no reason to allow the enemy to pass through the strait,” Araghchi said, adding that Iran has permitted transit only to countries it considers friendly, including India, China, Russia, Iraq and Pakistan.

However, he made it clear that vessels associated with countries viewed as adversaries—such as the United States and Israel—as well as certain Gulf nations involved in the ongoing conflict, would not be allowed passage through the strait.

The Iranian minister also underscored Tehran’s growing control over the critical waterway, stating that recent developments have demonstrated the country’s ability to enforce its decisions. He noted that earlier announcements regarding a partial blockade of the strait were initially dismissed by some observers, but subsequent actions have validated Iran’s position.

The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most crucial energy transit routes, and any restrictions on movement through it carry significant global economic implications. Iran’s latest move highlights both its strategic leverage in the region and the broader geopolitical tensions shaping maritime access in West Asia.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)