Iran has declared that non-hostile ships can pass through the Strait of Hormuz, as maritime traffic in the vital waterway has been sharply reduced, fueling one of the biggest global energy crises in decades.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the Iranian mission to the United Nations said that ships would be allowed "safe passage" through the strait, provided they do not participate in or support aggressive actions against Iran, and fully respect the declared safety regulations.
According to the statement, ships will only be allowed to pass in coordination with the competent Iranian authorities. A similar message was also sent to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the UN agency that deals with the safety of international maritime transport.
However, Tehran has not provided details on what rules ships must follow to safely pass through this maritime corridor, through which about a fifth of the global supply of oil and liquefied natural gas usually passes.
Iran's statement comes at a time when US President Donald Trump has said negotiations are underway to end the US-Israeli war against Iran, although Tehran has previously denied that such talks exist.
Meanwhile, traffic in the Strait of Hormuz remains much lower than normal. According to maritime intelligence firm Windward, just five ships passed through the waterway on Monday, compared with an average of about 120 crossings a day before the conflict began on February 28.
