Iran's Foreign Minister has confirmed that there is no intention to close the Strait of Hormuz, which is currently a crucial global oil transit route, amid ongoing intense conflict.
On 1 Mar 2026 GMT+7, Abbas Araghchi, Iran's Foreign Minister, told Al Jazeera that his country currently has no desire to close the Strait of Hormuz and has no plans to take any action that would "disrupt navigation through the strait at this time."
Araghchi's remarks came as Israel and the United States launched fierce attacks against Iran, while Tehran responded by firing missiles and drones at Middle Eastern countries hosting U.S. military bases as retaliation.
However, despite Araghchi's assurances, officials from the European Union Naval Force mission (Aspides) reported last Saturday that vessels had received VHF radio signals from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps stating, "No vessel is permitted to pass through the Strait of Hormuz."
The Strait of Hormuz is the world's most important oil export route, linking the largest oil producers in the Persian Gulf — including Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, and the United Arab Emirates — with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.
An official who spoke to Reuters said Iran has not officially confirmed the directive, but Tehran has long threatened to block this narrow shipping lane as retaliation if the Islamic Republic is attacked, although such a closure has never occurred.
Source:Al Jazeera,Reuters