The Strait of Hormuz remains open to international shipping, with the exception of American and Israeli ships. This was stated by Iranian army spokesman Abolfazl Shekarchi on Friday evening to Iranian state television. This is reported by the news agencies AFP and dpa.
- We are monitoring the security of the Strait of Hormuz, but we will not close it, the spokesman said, according to AFP.
Only ships from the United States and Israel are at risk of being attacked by Iran on the important trade route, the spokesman said.
- They have no business there, Shekarchi said, according to dpa.
The spokesman added that Iran cannot guarantee that international ships will not face problems if they sail through the Strait of Hormuz.
There have been various reports from Iran in recent days about the approximately 180-kilometer-long strait between Oman and Iran, after the United States and Israel launched a military operation in Iran on Saturday last week.
Last Monday, an advisor to Iran's Revolutionary Guard said that Iran would set fire to any ships that tried to pass.
The website Marinetraffic, which monitors ship traffic, has registered nine ships sailing through the strait since Monday, after three ships were attacked on Sunday. This is reported by AFP.
The Strait of Hormuz is an important trade route for oil, among other things. Around 20 percent of the world's oil consumption passes through the narrow strait.
The price of crude oil has therefore increased sharply since the war broke out. US President Donald Trump announced on his social media, Truth Social, on Tuesday that the US was prepared to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz if necessary.
- If necessary, the US Navy will begin escorting tankers through the Strait of Hormuz as soon as possible. No matter what, the US will ensure a free flow of energy to the world, Trump wrote.
/ritzau/
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