Iran Says Non-Hostile Vessels Can Pass Through Strait of Hormuz After Coordination, About 3,200 Ships Stranded in Persian Gulf

Gate News reports that on March 24, Iran sent a letter to members of the International Maritime Organization stating that “non-hostile vessels” can pass through the Strait of Hormuz after “coordination with Iranian authorities.” In the letter distributed to IMO member states on Tuesday, Iran’s Foreign Ministry stated that Iran has “taken necessary and proportionate measures to prevent aggressors and their supporters from exploiting the Strait of Hormuz to carry out hostile actions against Iran.” Currently, about 3,200 ships are stranded in the Persian Gulf, and since the outbreak of conflict, at least 22 ships have been attacked by Iran. The IMO held an emergency meeting with member states last week, and the organization is negotiating to establish a humanitarian corridor to allow ships severely short of supplies to exit the Persian Gulf. Recent vessel tracking data indicates that Iran is allowing a small number of ships to pass through a route within its territorial waters. Analysts believe this route enables Iranian authorities to verify ships’ identities before allowing passage.