Iran has allowed ships from some countries to cross the Strait of Hormuz. This is what the country's Deputy Foreign Minister, Majid Takht-Ravanchi, told the AFP news agency.
- Some countries have already talked to us about passing through the strait, and we have cooperated with them, the deputy minister said in the interview, adding:
- We believe that the countries that joined the aggression should not benefit from safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
A spokesman for Iran's Foreign Ministry also told the Iranian news agency Mehr that many ships can still pass through the strait if they coordinate with the Iranian navy, Reuters reports.
The message comes after Iran's Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, emphasized in his first public statement the same day that the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed as a way to put pressure on the "enemy."
The Strait of Hormuz is located between Iran and Oman. The waters are crucial for transporting oil and gas out of the states surrounding the Persian Gulf. During the ongoing war in the region, the Strait of Hormuz has been practically closed to shipping due to the risk of attack.
The Revolutionary Guard in Iran has declared that it has control of the strait.
On Thursday, the Norwegian Maritime Directorate banned ships flying the Norwegian flag from entering the Strait of Hormuz. A press release from the authority emphasizes that the threat level in the area is critical.
- In recent days, civilian ships that have tried to leave the area have been attacked. This is an unacceptable and serious attack on civilian shipping, says Maritime Director Alf Tore Sørheim in a press release.
On the same day, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has also convened its council for an extraordinary meeting due to the situation in the Middle East.
The meeting will be held on March 18-19 in the capital of England, London, according to a press release.
/ritzau/
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