Iran says Strait of Hormuz is open but not for US or Israeli ships

March 17 ------ Iranian officials signal that the situation in the Strait of Hormuz should be viewed as a selective restriction rather than a complete closure of the waterway.

In comments made on 15 March, Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s foreign minister, said that the strategically significant Strait of Hormuz remains open for international maritime traffic, though vessels linked to the United States and Israel are reportedly prohibited from transiting the passage. Araghchi stated that the critical shipping route is still operational for global trade, emphasizing that the restriction applies specifically to U.S. and Israeli-affiliated vessels. His remarks come amid rising regional tensions and as hundreds of ships remain stuck in the narrow channel.

He noted that ships from other countries are still permitted to navigate through the strait. Araghchi also suggested that some shipping companies may be voluntarily avoiding the area due to security concerns rather than because of a formal blockade. According to him, several tankers and cargo vessels continue to pass through the strait despite the elevated tensions.

Traffic in the Strait

Data from Signal Ocean indicates that approximately 240 bulk carriers with a deadweight tonnage (DWT) exceeding 25,000 remain stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, based on vessels currently visible through AIS tracking systems. The actual figure could be higher, as some ships may have disabled or are not transmitting AIS signals.

So far, about 36 bulk carriers have successfully transited the strait, meaning more than 80% of vessels remain within the waterway. Among those that managed to pass, several Chinese-linked ships were identified, potentially signaling a pattern of additional China-affiliated vessels attempting transit. The ships in the area are almost evenly divided between ballast and laden status, each accounting for roughly 50%.

Reports also indicate that two Indian-flagged LPG tankers, Shivalik and Nanda Devi, have crossed the Strait of Hormuz and are now heading toward India. Their passage followed diplomatic engagement between India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and his Iranian counterpart, who reportedly held four rounds of discussions.

Additionally, according to Reuters, a Turkish-owned vessel was permitted to transit the Strait of Hormuz. Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, Turkey’s Transport and Infrastructure Minister, confirmed the development and said negotiations were ongoing to ensure the safe passage of other Turkish vessels. Authorities also noted that Turkish-owned ships in the area currently have a total of 171 personnel on board. At present, around 15 Turkish-owned vessels remain anchored near the Strait of Hormuz, including six cruise ships that are waiting in the vicinity with passengers still on board.

Bab el-Mandeb

As highlighted by Windward, transit activity through Bab el-Mandeb remained broadly stable on March 14. A total of 21 crossings (13 inbound, 8 outbound) were recorded, representing a 40% increase compared with the previous day and remaining close to the 7-day average of 22.57 crossings. Traffic included six bulk carriers, four container vessels, and four crude oil tankers among the most common vessel subclasses observed. Flag distribution was led by Panama with six vessels and Liberia with five, followed by Malta with two vessels.

Cape of Good Hope diversion

Rerouting around the Cape of Good Hope remained active on March 14, although overall traffic declined compared with the previous day. A total of 69 crossings were recorded (35 eastbound and 34 westbound), representing a 28.12% decrease compared with the previous day and falling below the 7-day moving average of 78.25 transits. The traffic mix was led by 27 bulk carriers and 13 container vessels, with five crude oil tankers also observed among the transiting vessels, WIndward explains. An additional 24 vessels were classified under other or unidentified categories, reflecting the diverse traffic composition along this long-haul diversion route.

Nevertheless, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) will convene an Extraordinary Session of its Council on 18–19 March, focusing particularly on the safety and operational challenges in and around the Strait of Hormuz. The meeting comes as a growing number of incidents and attacks in the area continue to disrupt global trade flows and endanger the wellbeing of seafarers. To remind, recently, an Indian seafarer lost his life after a crude oil tanker was struck by an unmanned craft on the port side while the vessel was conducting ship-to-ship loading operations. Several other seafarers have also been injured since tensions in the region began escalating on 28 February.

The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) and the Joint Negotiating Group (JNG) have designated the Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Oman and Persian Gulf as a Warlike Operations Area (WOA).

Source: safety4sea.com