By Victoria Friedman
Iran’s foreign minister said on March 16 that the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway vital for global oil and gas shipments, is closed to the United States, Israel, and their allies but open to other countries.
“Americans are asking other countries to come and help them so that the Strait of Hormuz remains open, which, of course, from our perspective, it is open,” Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said during a press conference.
“It is only closed to our enemies, to those who carried out unjust aggression against our country and to their allies.”
Araghchi made these comments after U.S. President Donald Trump called for a coalition of countries affected by the Iranian regime’s attacks on vessels to join the United States in patrolling the strait.
Lloyd’s List Intelligence, which has been publishing journals on shipping news since 1734, said in a March 16 analysis that Iran’s attacks on ships show no clear pattern.
“Attacks on ships in and around the Strait of Hormuz appear to be random and calibrated towards disruption rather than targeting specific profiles and national affiliation,” the analysis said.
Lloyd’s List said it reviewed the ownership, management, and trading history of each of the 16 vessels that had been hit in the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and the Gulf of Oman since the start of the Iran War on Feb. 28. One of the ships fired upon was an Abu Dhabi Ports-operated tugboat, which was sent to assist a container ship that had been struck by a missile in the Strait of Hormuz.
“Within the rest of the 15 vessels that were hit, eight were laden or partially laden while seven were in ballast position, which shows us that Iranian attacks do not target ships specifically for their cargo,” the analysis said. Ballast position indicates an absence of cargo, with only added weight (ballast) to ensure stability.
Of the vessels struck, 12 had different flags, and only one was U.S.-flagged.
However, the paper’s author acknowledged that as countries begin to negotiate with Iran to ensure safe passage of their ships through the strait, “a move towards risk profiling of ships on the basis of national affiliation could yet follow.”
Araghchi told CBS on March 15 that Tehran has been approached by “a number of countries” seeking safe passage for their vessels through the strategic waterway, but that any decision will be made by the Iranian military.
He added that Iranian forces have allowed “a group of vessels” from different countries to pass the strait, but declined to name them.
“We are open to countries who want to talk to us about the safe passage of their vessels,” Araghchi told the news outlet.
Trump Calls for Help to Reopen Hormuz
Trump said on March 15 that he had asked about seven countries that depend heavily on the waterway to help secure it. Earlier, he had named China, France, Japan, South Korea, and the UK as nations he hoped would deploy ships while U.S. forces kept targeting what remained of Iran’s naval capabilities.
In the following days, Trump’s call received support from some countries, while others declined.
On March 16, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that Downing Street was working with allies in Europe and the Gulf region to develop a plan on reopening the waterway—but stopped short of committing military forces.
The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, said the same day that ministers would discuss possible contributions from the bloc’s Aspides naval mission, but that any operations would depend on what EU member states were willing to do.
Spain said that it would not take part in any military mission in the area because it viewed the Iran War as illegal.
Australia also ruled out sending naval ships.
The Strait of Hormuz normally carries about one-fifth of the world’s oil supply.
Evgenia Filimianova, Aldgra Fredly, and Reuters contributed to this report.
