A document obtained by Tasnim says vessels bound for Iranian ports, including those now in the Gulf of Oman, must follow a transit protocol coordinated with Iranian authorities.
The April 1 letter says Iran has decided, \"in agreement with the strong Iranian government and the victorious Iranian military,\" to permit passage for ships carrying humanitarian cargo—particularly food staples and animal feed.
Since U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran in late February, the conflict has stretched beyond a month, and Tehran has effectively blocked the Strait of Hormuz — a key energy transit chokepoint.
Tehran has reportedly considered using the strait as a \"tollgate.\" Iran's parliament recently passed legislation to impose transit fees on vessels transiting the strait.
Qatar’s Al Jazeera reported April 4 that Iran may sort countries into three categories — hostile, neutral and friendly — and apply different transit rules. The outlet said Tehran is weighing bans on vessels tied to hostile states such as Israel and the United States, while charging fees to ships from neutral countries.
Vessels connected to countries Tehran considers friendly — including China, India and Türkiye — have continued to transit. But since April 3, reports say ships linked to Japan, France and other Western-oriented states have been steering clear of the strait. Authorities have not disclosed whether those vessels paid fees or the routes they used.
