Just a few days after the United States’ naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, Iran floated the idea of allowing free passage through the waterway on the Omani side. A source in Tehran said that Tehran could consider this option if the U.S. makes some concessions.
According to a report by Reuters, the source did not clarify whether Iran would allow all ships, including those linked to Israel, to pass freely. A Western source confirmed that the proposal to allow vessels to sail through the Omani side had been in the works, but did not say whether there had been any response from the U.S. ruling class on it.
The proposal appeared to be more of a gesture than a move that would, on its own, offer an immediate breakthrough for hundreds of ships waiting to pass through the key waterway, which handles about 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas flows. –Reuters
“We welcome any moves to permit safe transit of ships through the established traffic separation scheme,” said a spokesperson for the International Maritime Organization (IMO), which is the United Nations’ shipping agency.
US Says ‘No Ships Made It Past Blockade’ As Iran Mulls Hormuz Shipping Pause To Preserve Talks
The American military said the goal of the blockade was to cut off Iran’s trade in an attempt to force a peace deal. “Ten vessels have now been turned around, and zero ships have broken through since the start of the US blockade on Monday,” US Central Command said on Wednesday. However, a large Maltese-flagged tanker, the Agios Fanourios I, passed through Hormuz the same day, according to maritime tracking websites.
Rival Vessel Passes Through Strait of Hormuz Despite Trump’s Blockade
Both sides have been using this vital waterway to make life more difficult for its civilians. The cost of fuel has skyrocketed, forcing people who have nothing to do with this war to pay for it.