Iran announced that nearly 30 vessels have passed through the Strait of Hormuz with its authorization since Wednesday evening. This development was shared on Thursday amid rising tensions in the strategically vital waterway, which Tehran has placed under stringent control following escalations in regional conflicts earlier this year.
Iranian state media, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is overseeing maritime traffic through the strait, requiring ships to secure permission prior to transit. The IRGC has emphasized that the authority to grant passage rests solely with Iran’s armed forces, cautioning that unauthorized navigation could lead to repercussions.
The Strait of Hormuz serves as a crucial global oil transit route, facilitating about one-fifth of the world’s seaborne crude oil shipments. Since the onset of hostilities involving the United States and Israel, Iran has intensified its supervision of the waterway. This has included repeated interruptions to commercial shipping and occasional seizures or warnings directed at vessels, as noted by maritime observers.
At present, there is no independent verification of the number of vessels reported by Iranian media to have passed with permission. Nonetheless, Tehran’s announcement underscores its firm control over this key maritime corridor amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
