Amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East, Iran announced that it would not impose a blockade on vessels belonging to five friendly nations, including India, in the Strait of Hormuz. Other than India, ships from Russia, China, Pakistan, and Iraq have been allowed safe passage through the conflict-torn chokepoint.
In an interview with Iranian State TV, Abbas Araghchi, the Foreign Minister of Iran, said that the Strait of Hormuz is not entirely closed, as ships belonging to several nations with whom Iran shares friendly ties were allowed to pass through.
“Many of the shipowners, or the countries that own these vessels, have contacted us and requested that we ensure their safe passage through the strait. For some of these countries that we consider friendly, or in cases where we have decided to do so for other reasons, our armed forces have provided safe passage,” Araghchi said, as reported by news agency Reuters.
“You have seen on the news: China, Russia, Pakistan, Iraq, and India. Two of its ships passed through a few nights ago, and some other countries, and even Bangladesh, I believe. These are countries that spoke with us and coordinated with us, and this will continue in the future as well, even after the war,” he added.
However, he affirmed that vessels from the United States, Israel, and Gulf nations playing a role in the prevailing Middle East conflict will not be provided with the green signal to transit through the war-ridden strait.
“We are in a state of war. The region is a war zone, and there is no reason to allow the ships of our enemies and their allies to pass through. But it remains open to others,” Araghchi said, while talking about the ships of the ‘enemy nations.’
Araghchi also expressed his satisfaction over the command that Iran showed over the Strait of Hormuz after almost five decades. He said that when Iran announced the partial blockade, many in the world did not believe it and thought it was a bluff. However, with time, Iran showed its strength and authority over the Strait of Hormuz.
“They thought Iran did not have the courage to do such a thing. But we did it with strength. They mobilised all their abilities to stop it, but they failed. They even turned to other countries. They even appealed to those they themselves consider enemies, asking them to come and help reopen this waterway. But no one responded, because it is simply not feasible,” Araghchi mentioned.
Article source: indiatoday.in
