Iran says 'non-hostile' ships can pass safely through Strait of Hormuz

Iran has announced that vessels deemed "non-hostile" may safely navigate the Strait of Hormuz, providing a potential pathway for maritime traffic through the strategically vital waterway that has experienced a dramatic collapse in shipping activity, triggering the most severe global energy crisis in decades.

The Iranian mission to the United Nations issued a statement Tuesday declaring that ships could obtain "safe passage" through the strait, contingent upon their compliance with specific conditions. According to the statement, vessels must "neither participate in nor support acts of aggression against Iran and fully comply with the declared safety and security regulations."

The announcement specified that maritime traffic would be permitted "in coordination with the competent Iranian authorities," as detailed in the statement shared across social media platforms.

Iran simultaneously communicated similar guidance to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the United Nations agency responsible for overseeing international shipping safety and security protocols.

The statement notably omitted specific details regarding the regulations vessels must observe to ensure safe passage through the strait, which typically handles approximately one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments under normal circumstances.

These developments coincide with statements from U.S. President Donald Trump indicating ongoing negotiations aimed at resolving the US-Israel conflict with Iran, despite Tehran's previous denials of any diplomatic engagement between the parties.

Current maritime traffic data reveals the strait's severely constrained capacity. While limited vessel movement continues daily, shipping volumes remain substantially below pre-conflict levels that existed before the US-Israel military action against Iran commenced on February 28.

Maritime intelligence firm Windward reported that only five vessels were tracked transiting the waterway via automatic identification systems on Monday, representing a dramatic decline from the pre-conflict average of 120 daily transits.

Iranian officials initially warned that any vessel attempting passage would face potential attack during the early stages of the conflict. However, Tehran has recently modified its position, maintaining that the waterway remains accessible to all except designated "enemies."

The shipping disruption has generated significant volatility in global energy markets, with industry analysts projecting potential oil price increases to $150 or $200 per barrel should the waterway remain effectively closed to commercial traffic.

Brent crude, the international oil pricing benchmark, experienced substantial fluctuation throughout March, maintaining levels above $100 per barrel before declining more than 9 percent on Wednesday. This drop followed reports from The New York Times, Reuters, and Israel's Channel 12 indicating the Trump administration had presented Iran with a comprehensive 15-point proposal to end the hostilities.

Financial markets responded positively to potential peace developments, with major Asian stock indexes opening higher Wednesday amid growing optimism for conflict resolution.

Japan's Nikkei 225 benchmark gained approximately 2.3 percent as of 02:30 GMT, while South Korea's KOSPI index rose 2.6 percent. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index recorded a 0.7 percent increase during the same period.