(Image source from: REUTERS)

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi mentioned on Thursday that they have allowed ships from friendly nations, such as India, to travel through the Strait of Hormuz. The Iranian Consulate in Mumbai shared a statement saying, "Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi: We have allowed passage through the Strait of Hormuz for friendly countries including China, Russia, India, Iraq, and Pakistan. " This announcement came after United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres previously called for reopening the Strait of Hormuz. He mentioned on X that, "The ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz is limiting the transport of oil, gas, and fertilizer at an important time for global farming. People in the region and beyond are suffering greatly and living in great uncertainty. The UN is working to lessen the impacts of the war. The best way to do this is clear: end the war right now."

Guterres has called on the US and Israel to stop the conflict in West Asia. He stated, "My message to the US and Israel is that it is time to stop the war - as human suffering increases, civilian deaths rise, and the effects on the global economy become more severe. My message to Iran is to cease attacks on neighbors that are not involved in this conflict," he said. Previously, on March 25, Iran's mission in New York announced that they would permit what they referred to as "non-hostile vessels" to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. They posted on X, "Non-hostile vessels, including those from or linked to other nations, may -- as long as they do not engage in or support actions against Iran and fully follow the announced safety regulations -- enjoy safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz with the coordination of the relevant Iranian authorities. " The Iranian Defence Council has declared that the transit of these "non-hostile vessels" through the critical Strait of Hormuz now hinges on prior "coordination with Iranian officials".