Iranian State Media: European Nations Initiating Talks on Strait of Hormuz Passage Agreement

According to a report by Iranian state television today, European countries have approached Iranian authorities to negotiate the passage of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, although the report did not specify which nations. Agence France-Presse (AFP) reports that since the United States and Israel bombed Iran on February 28, sparking a war, Tehran has largely blockaded the critical waterway. The warring parties agreed to a ceasefire on April 8, which remains fragile. The Iranian state television report stated, 'Following the passage of ships from East Asian countries, especially from China, Japan, and Pakistan, we received news today that Europeans have also begun negotiations with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy' to obtain passage permits. The IRGC, the ideological branch of Iran's military, issued a statement indicating that in recent days, dozens of ships from countries including China have been granted passage 'after agreeing to Iran's regulations for managing the strait.' Before the US-Iran war, approximately one-fifth of global seaborne oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG), along with other major commodities, transited through the Strait of Hormuz. Since the war, Iran has repeatedly stated that shipping in the Strait of Hormuz 'will not return to its pre-war state' and mentioned in April that it had received its first revenue from strait transit fees. (Compiled by: Chang Cheng-chien) 1150516