Confusion reigns over Hormuz shipping reopening as Iran issues new passage conditions
Euronews.com • • nation
Key Points:
- More than 24 hours after the US-Iran ceasefire, the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed to normal oil and gas tanker traffic, despite Iran's initial promise to ensure safe navigation during the ceasefire.
- Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced alternative maritime routes citing possible sea mines in the strait, demanding ships coordinate passage with Iran, which contradicts the ceasefire terms and international maritime law.
- Iran declared it would begin charging transit fees for passage through the strait alongside Oman, a move rejected by Oman and seen as a violation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
- Iran’s demands for control over strait navigation and linkage of passage to political conditions have been condemned by Gulf states and regional oil officials, who emphasize that the strait must remain open and free under international norms.
- The US and Iran present conflicting narratives on the ceasefire’s terms, with Iran conditioning strait access on US and Israeli actions, while the US insists the strait will be open and safe, highlighting ongoing tensions and uncertainty.
