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ToggleIranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, in an interview with MS NOW, a media outlet under NBC, on the 14th, provided the latest clarification on the ongoing issue of the Strait of Hormuz blockade, with a significantly softer tone than before.
He stated unequivocally: "In fact, the Strait of Hormuz is open. This passage is only closed to tankers and ships belonging to our enemies, that is, those ships that attack us and our allies. Everyone else can pass freely."
Regarding the current reluctance of several vessels to pass due to "security concerns," Araghchi stated that this has nothing to do with Iran, emphasizing that it is the independent decision of the ship owners or insurance companies.
Indian oil tankers achieve breakthrough: 92,700 tons of LPG have passed through the canyon.
The statement was immediately corroborated by concrete examples. Sinha, Special Secretary of the Indian Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, confirmed that two oil tankers flying the Indian flag and fully loaded with liquefied petroleum gas had successfully passed through the Strait of Hormuz, carrying a total of 92,700 tons, and were expected to arrive at Indian ports on March 16 and 17, respectively.
Iranian Ambassador to India, Iraj Elahi, also confirmed that Iran had allowed some Indian ships to pass through the country. This followed a direct telephone conversation between Indian Prime Minister Modi and the Iranian President, with bilateral diplomatic efforts paving the way for the passage.
Türkiye also obtained passage through bilateral negotiations, demonstrating that "individual negotiations for passage" has become a major strategy for countries to deal with the current situation.
A third setback in stance: from "total blockade" to "only blocking the US and Israel".
Compared to its tough stance at the beginning of the war, Iran's latest signals are noticeably more moderate.
In the early stages of the conflict, the commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Navy declared that the Strait of Hormuz was "under control," deliberately leaving room for ambiguity in his wording. Subsequently, Iran put forward more aggressive conditions: only countries that expel the ambassadors of the United States or Israel would be allowed passage, which was described by the outside world as "unprecedented diplomatic blackmail."
Araghchi's statement now represents a significant step back: the exclusion is narrowed to the United States and Israel, effectively opening the country to the remaining 190-plus countries. Some analysts interpret this as a "substantial softening under Trump's military threats."
On the same day (March 14), Trump also publicly called on China, Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom, France and other countries to send warships to escort the ships, providing external leverage to put pressure on allies.
The insurance market remains the biggest obstacle.
However, a loosening of diplomatic rhetoric does not necessarily indicate an immediate recovery in the shipping market. Many shipowners and shipping operators admit that even with official Iranian statements of openness, international insurance companies generally refuse to underwrite routes related to the Strait of Hormuz, and war risk premiums have skyrocketed to astronomical figures, making it difficult to quantify the actual risks involved in passage.
The Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for approximately one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas, directly impacts the international energy supply chain. While India's successful case is symbolic, whether it will inspire more countries to follow suit and restore normal order to the strait remains to be seen.
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