Araghchi: Strait of Hormuz Closed Only to "Enemies" U.S. and Israel | DISCUSS

On Sunday, March 15, 2026, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi clarified Tehran's stance on the strategic Strait of Hormuz, stating that the waterway remains open to international shipping but is strictly closed to vessels from the United States and Israel.

The remarks follow the effective paralysis of the world’s most critical oil chokepoint since the outbreak of the U.S.-Iran war on February 28, 2026.

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"Closed Only to Our Enemies"

During an interview with MS Now and later on CBS’s Face the Nation, Araghchi emphasized that Iran is not enforcing a total blockade, but rather a selective one based on the ongoing conflict:

The Quote: "As a matter of fact, the Strait of Hormuz is open. It is only closed to the tankers and ships belonging to our enemies, to those who are attacking us and their allies. Others are free to pass," Araghchi stated.

Selective Passage: He claimed that Iran has already provided safe passage to several countries that requested it, though he declined to name them.

Security vs. Blockade: Araghchi argued that the current lack of traffic is due to "security concerns" caused by U.S. aggression rather than an Iranian refusal to allow transit for neutral nations.

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Global Impact and the Trump Response

Despite Araghchi’s claims, the reality on the water remains one of "effective closure" for the majority of global trade:

Shipping Paralyzed: Hundreds of vessels, including many Indian-flagged tankers, remain stranded between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.

Trump’s Naval Coalition: President Donald Trump has called on nations like China, France, Japan, and the UK to send warships to help the U.S. keep the strait open.

Yuan for Oil: Reports suggest Iran is considering a "Yuan-only" policy, where a limited number of tankers may pass if their oil cargo is traded in Chinese yuan rather than the U.S. dollar.

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Economic Shocks

The restricted access to the 33km-wide waterway, which normally carries 20% of the world’s daily oil and LNG supply, has triggered massive economic ripple effects:

Oil Prices: Crude oil prices have surged past $100 per barrel, with some Iranian officials warning they could eventually exceed $200.

LNG Crisis: Natural gas prices in Europe have risen by more than 60% following the suspension of Qatari shipments through the strait.

Insurance Halted: Most major maritime insurers canceled war risk coverage for the Gulf from March 5, making it nearly impossible for commercial ships to transit regardless of Iranian "permission".

Read also: US war with Iran has now cost an estimated $21,000,000,000 since strikes began