Iran insisted Strait of Hormuz

Tehran (dpa) — Iran is insisting on complete control over shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

The Tasnim news agency reported on Wednesday that a spokesman for Iran’s armed forces said that the situation in the strait would not return to its previous state, but that “whatever we want, will happen.”

All ships with links to the US or Israel will be banned from passing through, the spokesman said. “The decision on whether to grant a transit permit is up to us.”

The US is unlikely to accept this demand in any potential peace talks.

The spokesman also highlighted the strait’s central role in global energy markets, warning that Iran could influence oil prices.

Around 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas shipments pass through the Strait of Hormuz in peacetime.

According to Iran’s UN delegation, ships that are not considered hostile and do not support military action against Iran are allowed to use the sea route – provided they comply with Iranian regulations and coordinate with authorities.

The waterway, which is central to international energy trade, is effectively blocked for large sections of shipping.

Iranian warnings of mines and drone attacks, along with the withdrawal of war-risk insurance, have made transit nearly impossible for many Western operators, leaving hundreds of tankers and cargo ships stranded in the region.