Iran has granted conditional permission to ships from six countries, including Bangladesh, to pass through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, amid tensions in the Middle East, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in an interview on state television.
According to Tehran, the waterway has been kept partially open to some countries considered “allies” or “friendly.” This list includes India , China , Russia , Iraq, and Pakistan , in addition to Bangladesh .
The Iranian foreign minister said the strait has not been completely closed; rather, shipping is being conducted in a controlled manner. Various countries have contacted Tehran to ensure the safety of their commercial ships, and permission is being granted based on that coordination.
The Strait of Hormuz is crucial to global energy trade—about a fifth of the world’s oil passes through it. Restrictions imposed here due to recent conflicts have strained global energy supplies and pushed up prices.
Iran has previously said that these restrictive measures will mainly apply to “hostile” countries such as the United States and Israel, but conditional exemptions are being made for allied countries.
According to analysts, this move is strengthening Iran’s strategic control on the one hand, and on the other hand, it could further increase uncertainty in global trade and energy markets.