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Iran claims it coordinated passage of 26 vessels out of Hormuz in 24 hours
TL;DR
Iran's IRGC coordinated the passage of 26 vessels through the Strait of Hormuz in 24 hours amid stalled US-Iran talks. The situation raises concerns over global energy markets and humanitarian issues.
Key points
- IRGC coordinated transit of 26 vessels in 24 hours
- Traffic through Hormuz is with IRGC Navy permission
- Strait of Hormuz is vital for global energy exports
- US sanctions have impacted Iranian oil exports
- Standoff raises concerns over humanitarian issues
Mentioned in this story
Islamic Revolutionary Guard CorpsStrait of HormuzUS governmentISNA
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has said it coordinated the transit of 26 vessels through the Strait of Hormuz in the past 24 hours, as talks between Washington and Tehran over the resumption of traffic through the narrow waterway remain stalled.
“Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is being carried out with permission and in coordination with the IRGC Navy,” the statement carried by Iran’s state-affiliated ISNA news agency said on Wednesday.
About a fifth of global energy exports used to pass through the strait before the beginning of the United States-Israel war on Iran on February 28, which prompted Tehran to blockade the waterway.
US President Donald Trump’s administration responded by imposing a blockade on Iranian ports, choking Iranian oil exports – the country’s key source of revenue.
The standoff has put huge strain on global energy markets as well as raising concerns over a looming humanitarian catastrophe.
On Wednesday, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) warned that the blockage could trigger a severe global food price crisis within six to 12 months, calling the disruption “the beginning of a systemic agrifood shock”.
The Rome-based agency said the disruption is no longer only a shipping or energy-market problem, warning that the shock is moving through global agrifood systems in stages.
“The shock is unfolding in stages: energy, fertilizer, seeds, lower yields, commodity price increases, then food inflation,” the FAO said.
Stalled talks
On Wednesday, Trump spoke about “progress” made in negotiations with Iran. But he also threatened to resume military action if Iran does not agree to a deal.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned “return to war will feature many more surprises”. The IRGC also said that if Iran is attacked again, it would widen the conflict by extending fighting “this time” beyond the region.
Will Todman, senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told Al Jazeera that the warring sides seem convinced that extending their respective blockades will earn them more leverage against the other.
“I think it’s very difficult to see something that will fundamentally change the calculation, because both sides seem to believe that the longer this goes on, the greater their leverage will be because the more their opponents will be suffering economically,” Todman said on Wednesday.
Q&A
What is the significance of the Strait of Hormuz for global energy exports?
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint where about a fifth of global energy exports used to pass, making its security vital for energy markets.
How has the US-Iran conflict affected shipping through the Strait of Hormuz?
The US-Iran conflict has led to a blockade by Iran and US sanctions on Iranian ports, severely impacting oil exports and shipping traffic in the region.
What are the humanitarian concerns related to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz?
The blockade has raised fears of a humanitarian catastrophe due to the potential disruption of essential supplies and economic stability in the region.
