Strait of Hormuz closed only to 'aggressor' countries' ships — Iranian diplomat

Iran says Strait of Hormuz closed only to 'aggressor' nations' ships

BERLIN — An Iranian diplomat has stated that the Strait of Hormuz remains open to all shipping except vessels belonging to "aggressor" nations, as Tehran continues to assert control over the strategically vital waterway amid its ongoing conflict with the United States and Israel.

"The Strait of Hormuz has been and continues to be open to all parties who are not aggressors," Iranian Ambassador to Germany Majid Nili Ahmadabadi told the Berliner Zeitung newspaper, according to remarks published by TASS.

His comments came as multiple Iranian officials confirmed that the country has effectively closed the strait to ships associated with the US, Israel, and countries that have supported aggression against Tehran. The Iranian foreign ministry has said that vessels from friendly nations, including Russia, India, Iraq, China, and Pakistan, have been granted passage.

Coverage comparison

TASS, the Russian state news agency, has been the primary outlet reporting on the Iranian statements, carrying remarks from several Iranian officials and diplomats over the past several weeks. All reporting traces back to official Iranian sources, with no independent verification from other news organizations reflected in the provided extracts.

One TASS report quotes Abdul Majid Hakim Elahi, an envoy of Iran's Supreme Leader, confirming that Iran controls the Strait of Hormuz because "the war with the United States and Israel has not ended yet." In a separate report, Iranian Ambassador to Russia Kazem Jalali stated that the actual situation is reflected in statements from Iran's government agencies.

A third report, bylined from Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, relays an article authored by Iran's ambassador to that country, Ali Mojtaba Rouzbahani, who frames the strait's security as dependent on Iran's sovereignty and domestic stability.

Key claims

• Iran has decided to close the Strait of Hormuz to ships related to the US, Israel, and countries that supported aggression against Tehran, as reported by multiple TASS articles citing Iranian officials.
• Several tankers have been attacked for passing through the strait without Iran's permission, a claim made by multiple Iranian sources and reported by TASS.
• Iran has allowed passage through the Strait of Hormuz for friendly countries, including Russia, India, Iraq, China, and Pakistan, according to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, as reported by TASS.
• The United States and Israel launched a military operation against Iran on February 28, a claim carried by a single TASS report that remains unverified by independent sources.
• Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced a retaliatory operation targeting sites in Israel, also reported by a single TASS article.
• Security in the Strait of Hormuz is tied directly to whether Iran maintains sovereignty and domestic stability, according to Iranian Ambassador Rouzbahani's article.

Perspectives

Iranian officials insist the strait remains open to non-aggressor nations, with Ambassador Ahmadabadi telling the Berliner Zeitung that "every war has economic consequences" and expressing hope for a ceasefire that meets Iran's interests.

The conflict began on February 28, according to TASS reports, when the United States and Israel launched military operations against Iran. Iranian cities including Tehran have been struck, and Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has announced retaliatory operations against Israeli sites.

Regional dynamics have also been affected, with Iran's ambassador to Turkmenistan praising the "outstanding role" of neighbors including Turkmenistan, Russia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan, whose humanitarian aid shipments have highlighted strong regional ties.

The United States and Israel have not commented on the situation in the provided reports, and no independent verification of the military situation has been possible.