Ever since Iran blocked the strategic Strait of Hormuz after attack by US and Israel, global supply chains have been thrown into chaos. 40% of world’s oil and gas passes through this strait controlled by Iran. Shortly after US and Israel launched the strikes on February 28, Iran retaliated by closing this trade route.
Now there is a ray of hope for all the commercial ships stranded at sea due to this blockade. Reuters reported that Iran has told the United Nations and the International Maritime Organisation that it is willing to let non-hostile ships pass through the strait after they coordinate with the Iranian authorities.
In a note submitted to the 15 member UN Security Council, Iran said, “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.”
The note was then circulated among the 176 members of the UN’s maritime organisation.
It further added, “Iran has taken necessary and proportionate measures to prevent the aggressors and their supporters from exploiting the Strait of Hormuz to advance hostile operations against Iran.”
US and Israeli vessels will still remain totally banned from using the strait while the conflict rages on.
Even though this transit of ships will still be at the discretion of Iranian authorities and it remains to be seen which vessels are classified as non-hostile by them, this offers a ray of hope for the normalisation of global supply chains.
