Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister: Passage through the Strait of Hormuz requires military permission, still facing "technical restrictions".

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister stated in an interview that oil tankers and other ships seeking to pass through the Strait of Hormuz must contact the Iranian military to ensure safe passage. The country's Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh said, "The Strait of Hormuz is open, but of course, every oil tanker and ship should make necessary arrangements with Iranian authorities for safe passage." He added that due to recent attacks on Iran and the narrowness of the waterway, there are "technical limitations" that need to be taken into account. Despite President Trump stating on Tuesday that a 14-day ceasefire between the US and Iran depends on the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz - and Tehran agreeing that passage is possible - shipping through this key chokepoint remains largely disrupted. After a sharp drop in crude oil futures on Wednesday, falling by over 13%, prices rebounded on Thursday to over $98 per barrel. Khatibzadeh stated, "All ships wishing to pass through the Strait of Hormuz must communicate with our military and military department," adding, "Anyone who has communicated with Iranian authorities has been granted permission." However, implementing this arrangement may face practical difficulties as it would mean that approximately 130 ships that typically pass through the Strait of Hormuz before conflicts would need to contact Iran and obtain approval. Khatibzadeh's remarks are in line with the radio broadcasts made by Iran to maritime traffic on Wednesday, insisting that approval must be obtained to pass through the corridor. Iran has been charging some shipping companies up to $2 million in transit fees. On Thursday, two fully loaded Chinese oil tankers were waiting near the strait, with a third one on the way. This makes them the first batch of such ships expected to leave the Persian Gulf since the ceasefire began.