On Thursday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced on state media that the Strait of Hormuz has been opened for five ‘friendly nations’, including India.
The Consulate General of Iran in Mumbai stated in a post on X, “Iran FM Abbas Araghchi: We have permitted passage through the Strait of Hormuz for friendly nations, including China, Russia, India, Iraq, and Pakistan.”
#Iran FM Abbas #Araghchi: We permitted passage through the Strait of #Hormuz for friendly nations including China, Russia, India, Iraq, and Pakistan. pic.twitter.com/RvLtiwYB4v
— Consulate General of the I.R. Iran in Mumbai (@IRANinMumbai) March 25, 2026
Amid the escalating conflict in West Asia, oil prices have risen in an unprecedented manner, shocking global energy markets, after Iran blocked tankers from passing through the Strait of Hormuz. The Strait is a key shipping route through which approximately 20% of the world’s oil is transported.
No Reason To Allow Ships
According to the Reuters report that cited the interview, Araghchi said, “Many of the shipowners, or the countries that own these vessels, have contacted us and requested that we ensure their safe passage through the strait. For some of these countries that we consider friendly, or in cases where we have decided to do so for other reasons, our armed forces have provided safe passage.”
“You have seen on the news: China, Russia, Pakistan, Iraq, and India. Two of its ships passed through a few nights ago, and some other countries, and even Bangladesh, I believe. These are countries that spoke with us and coordinated with us, and this will continue in the future as well, even after the war,” he added.
Only recently, in late March, two key Indian-flagged LPG tankers, Jag Vasant and Pine Gas, had been allowed passage through the Strait of Hormuz, with another 20-23 tankers currently in the vicinity or awaiting the chance to move amid the ongoing conflict.
Araghchi confirmed that vessels affiliated with the United States, Israel, and Gulf states that play a role in the conflict in West Asia will be allowed to pass through the Strait.
“We are in a state of war. The region is a war zone, and there is no reason to allow the ships of our enemies and their allies to pass through. But it remains open to others,” he said.
Diplomacy Is The Way Out
This interview follows closely after the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ statement on X, calling for the reopening of the Strait.
“The prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz is choking the movement of oil, gas, & fertilizer at a critical moment in the global planting season. Across the region & beyond, civilians are enduring serious harm & living under profound insecurity. The United Nations is working to minimise the consequences of the war. And the best way to minimise those consequences is clear: End the war – immediately,” the post stated.
“The shock waves of the conflict in the Middle East are falling hardest on those who bear no responsibility: the poorest & the most vulnerable. War is not the answer. We need a way out of this disaster. Diplomacy, full respect of international law & peace are the way out,” he added in another post.
(with inputs from Reuters)
