Iran on Thursday said that, despite ongoing military tensions in the Middle East, it has allowed transit through the Strait of Hormuz for “friendly nations” including India.The Consulate General of Iran in Mumbai shared a statement from Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, saying: “We have allowed passage through the #Strait of Hormuz for friendly nations including China, Russia, India, Iraq and Pakistan.”Araghchi’s comments come after UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for keeping the Strait of Hormuz open.In a post on Twitter, Guterres said, “The prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz is disrupting the movement of oil, gas and fertilizer at a critical moment in the global planting season. Across the region and beyond, civilians are suffering grave harm and living in deep insecurity. The United Nations is working to mitigate the consequences of the war. And the best way to mitigate those consequences is clear: end the war immediately.“
The UN chief also urged America, Israel and Iran to end the ongoing military standoff.He said, “My message to the United States and Israel is that now is the time to end the war – because humanitarian suffering is deepening, civilian casualties are increasing and the global economic impact is becoming increasingly devastating. My message to Iran is to stop attacking their neighbors who are not involved in the conflict.”He said, “My message to the United States and Israel is that now is the time to end the war, as humanitarian suffering is deepening, civilian casualties are increasing and the global economic impact is becoming increasingly devastating. My message to Iran is to stop attacking neighbors who are not involved in the conflict.”However, for Western powers, the key oil lifeline remains the Strait of Hormuz, a key choke point amid a US-Israeli offensive on Iran that is now increasingly unstable. The Tehran regime’s strong response included blocking key waterways in the Gulf, amid fears that any disruption could effectively halt global energy flows.
