Iran continues to maintain its blockade on the Strait of Hormuz , however, Tehran is selectively choosing which vessels it is allowing to pass through the waterway.
Since the start of the war on 28 February, dozens of naval ships have been stuck in the strait, disrupting logistics and supply chains, which in turn skyrocketed the price of oil and other commodities. US President Donald Trump on Sunday warned Iran to reopen the passage by Tuesday by 20:00 Washington DC time (midnight GMT), threatening that he’ll take out the country "in one night".
Iran has made an exception for certain vessels from "friendly countries" to pass through the vital waterway. Tehran, however, has been reportedly charging such nations "fees", reportedly in the Chinese yuan currency as a "war compensation", but details still remain vague. The New Arab takes a look.
The majority of ships allowed to pass through have been linked to Asia, as many countries in the continent have been eager to strike deals with Iran , given their reliance on energy from the Gulf. Philippines Several Philippines-flagged ships were assured a "safe, unhindered, and expeditious passage" through the strait, after Manila confirmed such on Thursday following discussions with Iran.
Foreign Minister Tess Lazaro described the outcome as a critical development, noting it would help "protect Filipino seafarers deployed in the Middle East while safeguarding the country’s energy supply".
"Given that the Philippines imports the majority of its energy requirements from the Middle East, these assurances from Iran will greatly facilitate the steady delivery of critical oil and fertiliser supplies to the Philippines," the foreign ministry said.
The Southeast Asian country’s crude oil supplies come exclusively from the Middle East, with Saudi Arabia being its biggest supplier. Pakistan On 28 March, Pakistan said Iran had allowed 20 of its ships to pass through after similar discussions with top diplomats.
Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar expressed appreciation for Iran’s "welcome and constructive gesture," and added that "dialogue, diplomacy, and such confidence-building measures are the only way forward" following the agreement.
It remains uncertain how many other ships were allowed to pass through prior to the discussions, though Pakistan and Iran have friendly relations , with Islamabad currently mediating between Tehran and the US amid the war. India Indian-flagged ships have also been given the green light to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. On Tuesday, local media reported that eight ships have already exited the Strait of Hormuz, while 16 more remain.
India and Iran have maintained cordial but complex ties, and began re-engaging in early 2026 to resume oil purchases following a years-long hiatus.
After Indian ships were allowed to pass through the strait, the Iranian embassy in the country said their Indian friends "were in safe hands". Iraq Oil-rich Iraq, which neighbours Iran, has also been exempt from the country’s blockade on the Strait of Hormuz. Over the weekend, Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya made the announcement, while Baghdad’s top diplomat expressed thanks for the decision. Malaysia The Southeast Asian country, which produces oil but also relies on imports from the Middle East, has been given similar treatment. Earlier on Tuesday, Bloomberg said seven of its stranded ships transited through the Strait.
Malaysia’s foreign ministry confirmed that this development followed high-level diplomatic engagement between the two countries’ leaders and foreign ministers last month. Indonesia Like its neighbours, Malaysia and the Philippines, Indonesia has also secured passage for two of its vessels carrying crude oil from Saudi Arabia, following diplomatic engagement with Tehran. China In the first half of March, 11 China-linked vessels had already sailed through Hormuz, CNBC reported, citing data from Lloyd’s List Intelligence. The ships were mostly cargo carriers, according to the outlet.
Two Chinese container ships also sailed through the Strait of Hormuz on 30 March at the second attempt after turning back into the Gulf on Friday, ship-tracking data showed.
The vessels were sailing in close formation out of the strait and into open waters, according to data on the MarineTraffic platform. Japan Japan has also been among the states allowed to have ships pass through the Strait of Hormuz. The liquified gas-carrying Mitsui O.S.K. successfully transited through on Friday, local media said. Elsewhere A handful of other countries have also secured Iran’s permission, allowing vessels to transit.
Iran’s ally, Russia , is among them. On Thursday, Kremlin foreign policy adviser Yury Ushakov said: "For us, the Strait of Hormuz is open." The number of Russian vessels passing through hasn’t been specified, nor has the time period for such movement.
Russia is among Iran’s biggest allies throughout the war and before, and has been accused of helping Tehran with its retaliatory strikes on the US.
Transcontinental Turkey, which shares a border with Iran, is also exempt. On Monday, Anadolu agency said a third Ankara-owned vessel passed through amid the crisis. Infrastructure minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu said eight more ships are waiting for a departure date and time.
A France-owned, Malta-flagged ship has also passed through the Strait on Friday, the first of its kind for Western European vessels.
The ship, owned by French company CMA CGM, passed close to the coast of Oman on the opposite side of the waterway to Iran, though it remains unclear what it was carrying.