booth — Iran’s mission to the United Nations said on Tuesday (ET) that “non-hostile” ships may transit the Strait of Hormuz with “safe passage, ” as maritime traffic through the waterway has collapsed and global energy markets tighten. The mission said vessels may transit provided they “neither participate in nor support acts of aggression against Iran and fully comply with the declared safety and security regulations. ” Ship movements remain a fraction of pre-war levels, heightening economic ripple effects worldwide.
Booth reaction: Iran’s statement and the immediate shipping picture
The statement from Iran’s mission to the United Nations reiterated that ships will be allowed to transit the strait “in coordination with the competent Iranian authorities, ” and noted a parallel communication with the International Maritime Organization. Tehran did not elaborate on what the declared safety and security regulations require. While a small number of ships are moving through the waterway, traffic has fallen dramatically: five vessels were tracked transiting the strait on Monday (ET), down from an average of 120 daily transits before the conflict, maritime intelligence firm Windward recorded.
Critical facts first: why the strait’s paralysis matters now
The Strait of Hormuz normally carries about one-fifth of global supplies of oil and liquefied natural gas. The sharp drop in traffic followed the outbreak of hostilities after the US and Israel launched military action against Iran, which began on February 28 (ET). Iran initially warned that any ship attempting passage might face attack, but later statements from Tehran have stressed that the waterway remains open to those it deems not hostile. The collapse of shipping through the strait has pushed international oil prices higher and strained energy supplies globally.
Immediate reactions and named sources
“Non-hostile” and “safe passage” were the exact terms used by Iran’s mission to the United Nations in its Tuesday (ET) statement, and the mission set the condition that vessels must not “participate in nor support acts of aggression against Iran and fully comply with the declared safety and security regulations. ” The International Maritime Organization received a similar communication from Tehran. United States President Donald Trump said that negotiations were under way to end the war, and the role of diplomatic talks was highlighted amid market volatility and military activity.
Maritime intelligence firm Windward provided the latest transit counts, showing the steep decline in daily ship movements through the strait. Analysts cited in reporting have warned that prolonged closure or effective blockade of the waterway could push oil much higher, intensifying the global economic shock.
What’s next: watching talks, shipping and oil prices
Expect close monitoring of whether vessels attempt passage under the conditions Tehran outlined and whether the International Maritime Organization or other competent authorities clarify the required regulations. Negotiations referenced by President Trump and the diplomatic contacts between Tehran and international bodies will be central to any change in risk assessments for transits. If the waterway remains effectively closed, some analysts say oil could spike sharply — with forecasts cited that project oil rising to $150 or even $200 a barrel — and global markets will continue to respond. The immediate metrics to watch are transit counts tracked by maritime intelligence firms, statements from Iran’s mission to the United Nations and any new guidance from the International Maritime Organization, all of which will determine whether safe passage moves from promise to practice at this crucial shipping booth.
