Iran State TV: European Countries in Talks with Tehran for Hormuz Transit
Following the passage of ships from East Asian countries, notably China, Japan and Pakistan, European nations have begun negotiations with Iran's Revolutionary Guards navy to secure permission to transit through the Strait of Hormuz.
May 16, 2026: Iranian state television has reported that European countries are in discussions with Tehran regarding the passage of ships through the strategically significant Strait of Hormuz.
According to the report, these negotiations involve the Revolutionary Guards navy, aiming to gain authorization for transit.
The announcement did not specify which European nations are involved in these talks.Since tensions escalated between Iran and its adversaries, particularly following the outbreak of war with the United States and Israel on February 28th, there has been a significant restriction on shipping through this critical waterway.
A fragile ceasefire began on April 8th, though the situation remains tense.
The Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz has caused concern globally and provides Tehran with considerable strategic leverage.
Additionally, the United States has implemented its own naval blockade against Iranian ports.In non-conflict conditions, the Strait of Hormuz facilitates approximately one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments, alongside other key commodities.
Recently, Iran has permitted passage for dozens of vessels, including those from China, following agreements on managing the strait's traffic protocols.
The Revolutionary Guards emphasized that this access is granted to commercial ships cooperating with Iran and subject to payment of necessary fees for specialized services.Ebrahim Azizi, head of the Iranian parliament’s national security commission, noted that Iran has developed a professional mechanism to manage traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, which will be revealed shortly.
He underlined that only commercial vessels and parties collaborating with Iran would benefit from this arrangement, signaling a closed-off status for entities associated with what he referred to as the 'freedom project' – a temporary U.S. military operation aimed at guiding stranded commercial ships through the strait.
According to the report, these negotiations involve the Revolutionary Guards navy, aiming to gain authorization for transit.
The announcement did not specify which European nations are involved in these talks.Since tensions escalated between Iran and its adversaries, particularly following the outbreak of war with the United States and Israel on February 28th, there has been a significant restriction on shipping through this critical waterway.
A fragile ceasefire began on April 8th, though the situation remains tense.
The Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz has caused concern globally and provides Tehran with considerable strategic leverage.
Additionally, the United States has implemented its own naval blockade against Iranian ports.In non-conflict conditions, the Strait of Hormuz facilitates approximately one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments, alongside other key commodities.
Recently, Iran has permitted passage for dozens of vessels, including those from China, following agreements on managing the strait's traffic protocols.
The Revolutionary Guards emphasized that this access is granted to commercial ships cooperating with Iran and subject to payment of necessary fees for specialized services.Ebrahim Azizi, head of the Iranian parliament’s national security commission, noted that Iran has developed a professional mechanism to manage traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, which will be revealed shortly.
He underlined that only commercial vessels and parties collaborating with Iran would benefit from this arrangement, signaling a closed-off status for entities associated with what he referred to as the 'freedom project' – a temporary U.S. military operation aimed at guiding stranded commercial ships through the strait.
