Iran says about 30 vessels crossed Strait of Hormuz with Tehran’s permission

TEHRAN: Iran said that around 30 vessels have crossed the Strait of Hormuz with Tehran’s permission since Wednesday evening, state media reported on Thursday.

The announcement comes amid heightened tensions in the strategic waterway, which Iran has placed under strict control since the escalation of regional hostilities earlier this year.

Iranian state media quoted the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as saying that maritime traffic through the strait is being managed under its supervision, with vessels required to obtain approval before passage.

The IRGC has previously said that the authority to permit transit through the Strait of Hormuz lies with Iran’s armed forces, and has warned that unauthorised passage could face consequences.

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical global oil chokepoint, handling roughly a fifth of the world’s seaborne crude shipments.

Iran has tightened oversight of the waterway since the outbreak of conflict with the United States and Israel, with repeated disruptions to commercial shipping and periodic seizures or warnings to vessels, according to maritime sources.

There was no immediate independent confirmation of the number of vessels reported by Iranian state media.