Iran to selectively allow Strait of Hormuz passage for friendly states

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi said in Tehran that Tehran would allow the passage of some ships through the Hormuz Strait, while continuing to block others. In a interview with AFP, he said a number of countries had already discussed transit with Iran and that Tehran has cooperated with them. He indicated that passage would be selectively granted to friendly states and non-aggressor countries, and he stressed that states that participated in aggression should not reap the benefits of safe passage.

Takht-Ravanchi also denied claims that Iran had laid mines in the strait. His remarks come after U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. military struck 28 ships Iran had used to lay mines in the Hormuz corridor, a claim echoed by Reuters that Iran had planted dozens of mines.

The Iranian deputy foreign minister added that Iran wants assurances it will not be forced into another war. He criticized the way hostilities began last year—describing a de-escalation that lasted 12 days after the conflict started in June, followed by a regrouping and renewed attacks about eight to nine months later.

Meanwhile, Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran’s new supreme leader, in a televised address urged that the Hormuz Strait be kept as a lever to pressure the United States and Israel. The message underscored Tehran’s commitment to leveraging the strait in the broader confrontation with Western powers.

For international readers, the Hormuz Strait is a critical global chokepoint through which a substantial share of the world’s oil and energy shipments pass. Moves to restrict or threaten passage can ripple through energy markets, supply chains, and geopolitics far beyond Iran and the region. The statements reflect ongoing, high-stakes tensions between Iran and the United States, with potential implications for global energy security, naval posture in the Gulf, and Western policy toward Tehran.