The Strait of Hormuz has effectively been shut to most traffic even as Iran says the waterway remains open to international shipping — with the exception of vessels it deems linked to “Iran’s enemies.” The standstill follows a warning from US President Donald Trump that Washington could strike Iranian power infrastructure if the strait is not “fully open” within 48 hours, raising fears of a wider regional escalation and disruptions to global energy supplies.
Iran’s representative Ali Mousavi told Reuters Tehran is willing to work with international bodies, including the International Maritime Organization, to ensure maritime safety and protect seafarers in the Gulf. At the same time, Mousavi made clear access is conditional: ships “not linked to Iran’s enemies” may transit provided they coordinate security and safety arrangements with Tehran.
Transit through the narrow passage has slowed to a near standstill, data from MarineTraffic shared on Thursday shows. The Strait of Hormuz carries roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas, and the decline in traffic has prompted concern about possible supply shocks and higher energy prices as shipowners avoid the route.
Mousavi blamed Israeli and US actions for the current crisis while stressing that “diplomacy remains Iran’s priority” and calling for a cessation of aggression and mutual trust. His comments underscore Tehran’s simultaneous openness to cooperation and insistence on controlling which vessels may pass.
Washington has been pressing allies to take a larger role in securing the strait. After meeting Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Trump urged her to “step up” and help reopen the passage, though Tokyo has not committed to deploying warships. Takaichi said she had explained Japan’s legal constraints and what support it can realistically offer. On his social media platform TruthSocial, Trump also urged China, France, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom to send ships to the region.
Adding a new layer of tension, Iranian lawmaker Alaeddin Boroujerdi told Iran International that some vessels are being charged as much as $2 million to transit the strait, describing the fees as part of a shift to a “sovereign regime” and saying “war has costs.” Tehran has not provided full details on how such charges would be applied.
Japan has signalled a possible minesweeping role if a ceasefire is established. Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi told Reuters the Self-Defense Forces could consider minesweeping “hypothetically” if naval mines were an obstacle and a complete ceasefire were in place, but he stressed that Tokyo has no immediate plans to formalise deployments. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said discussions had occurred about passage for Japan-linked ships.
The unfolding stalemate highlights the strategic fragility of the Hormuz corridor and the complex balance between maritime security, national sovereignty and global energy stability.
Original Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/irans-enemy-ships-rule-to-japan-s-minesweepers-what-s-happening-in-strait-of-hormuz-101774171321863.html
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Publish Date: 2026-03-22 19:28:00
