diplomacyMay 16, 2026

Iran state TV says European countries in talks with Tehran for Hormuz transit

Summary

Tehran: Iranian state television said on Saturday that European countries were in talks with Tehran over transit for ships through the Strait of Hormuz. "Following the passage of ships from East Asian countries, notably China, Japan and Pakistan, we received information today indicating that Europeans have also begun negotiations with the Revolutionary Guards navy" to get permission to pass, state television reported, without specifying which countries. Iran has largely blocked shipping through the vital strait since the outbreak of war with the United States and Israel on February 28. A fragile ceasefire has been in place since April 8. Also Read: Iran plans new Hormuz transit mechanism, says only cooperating nations will benefit Its grip over the waterway has rattled global markets and given Tehran significant leverage, while the United States has imposed its own naval blockade on Iranian ports. In peacetime, the route accounts for roughly a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments, along with other key commodities. Iran has in recent days allowed passage for dozens of ships including from China "after an agreement on Iran's strait management protocols," the Guards, the ideological arm of Iran's military, said in a statement. Since the war broke out, Iran has repeatedly said that maritime traffic through the strait would "not return to its pre-war status" and last month said it has received the first revenue from tolls it imposed on the waterway. Also Read: Why Trump’s pressure tactics fail to bring Iran to negotiating table On Saturday, Ebrahim Azizi, head of the Iranian parliament's national security commission, said Iran "has prepared a professional mechanism to manage traffic" through the strait, adding that it will be "unveiled soon". "In this process, only commercial vessels and parties cooperating with Iran will benefit from it," he noted, adding that "the necessary fees will be collected for specialized services". "This route will remain closed to the operators of the so-called 'freedom project'," he said, referring to a temporary US military operation to guide stranded commercial ships through the strait. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel) "Following the passage of ships from East Asian countries, notably China, Japan and Pakistan, we received information today indicating that Europeans have also begun negotiations with the Revolutionary Guards navy" to get permission to pass, state television reported, without specifying which countries. Iran has largely blocked shipping through the vital strait since the outbreak of war with the United States and Israel on February 28. A fragile ceasefire has been in place since April 8. Also Read: Iran plans new Hormuz transit mechanism, says only cooperating nations will benefit Its grip over the waterway has rattled global markets and given Tehran significant leverage, while the United States has imposed its own naval blockade on Iranian ports. In peacetime, the route accounts for roughly a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments, along with other key commodities. Iran has in recent days allowed passage for dozens of ships including from China "after an agreement on Iran's strait management protocols," the Guards, the ideological arm of Iran's military, said in a statement. Since the war broke out, Iran has repeatedly said that maritime traffic through the strait would "not return to its pre-war status" and last month said it has received the first revenue from tolls it imposed on the waterway. Also Read: Why Trump’s pressure tactics fail to bring Iran to negotiating table On Saturday, Ebrahim Azizi, head of the Iranian parliament's national security commission, said Iran "has prepared a professional mechanism to manage traffic" through the strait, adding that it will be "unveiled soon". "In this process, only commercial vessels and parties cooperating with Iran will benefit from it," he noted, adding that "the necessary fees will be collected for specialized services". "This route will remain closed to the operators of the so-called 'freedom project'," he said, referring to a temporary US military operation to guide stranded commercial ships through the strait. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel) (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel) Explore More Stories

Perspectives

Iranian Official

Iran has firmly asserted its sovereign authority over the Strait of Hormuz in response to the aggressive war launched by the United States and Israel on February 28, implementing managed transit protocols to safeguard national interests. European countries, following East Asian nations like China, have now approached the Revolutionary Guards Navy for passage permissions, underscoring Iran's successful resistance and leverage after imposing tolls during the conflict. A fragile ceasefire since April 8 has not altered Tehran's determination to prevent any return to pre-war vulnerabilities.

Israeli

Iran views its post-ceasefire grip on the Strait of Hormuz—imposed after launching war against Israel and the United States on February 28—as a core lever to choke global energy flows and extract tolls, directly threatening Israel's survival by empowering its proxy network and evading effective containment. This maneuver, allowing selective passage only for compliant states while Revolutionary Guards enforce new protocols, highlights the defensive imperative for sustained naval and military pressure to neutralize Tehran's ability to weaponize the waterway.

Neutral

Iranian state television reported on Saturday that European countries have begun negotiations with Iran's Revolutionary Guards navy for transit permissions through the Strait of Hormuz, following prior arrangements with vessels from China, Japan, and Pakistan. The broadcasts described these talks in the context of Iran's restrictions on shipping, imposed after the February 28 outbreak of conflict with the United States and Israel and maintained under a ceasefire in effect since April 8. The Guards stated that dozens of ships, including from China, have been allowed passage after agreeing to Iran's management protocols, with Iranian officials indicating that traffic will not return to pre-war conditions.

Western

Iran’s continued attempts to control transit through the Strait of Hormuz, including reported tolls and negotiations with European states, pose an ongoing threat to global energy routes and maritime freedom. NATO-aligned forces, including the US naval blockade of Iranian ports, are focused on neutralizing this leverage through precision operations that secure safe passage for compliant vessels while deterring further Iranian interference. A stable ceasefire since April 8 provides an opportunity to enforce international navigation norms without returning to pre-war vulnerabilities.

Pro-Peace

The war between Iran, the United States, and Israel, followed by a fragile ceasefire, has enabled Iran's control over the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting a key route for global oil and gas shipments and driving up energy prices that disproportionately burden civilians in vulnerable economies. This escalation has inflicted widespread humanitarian costs through economic instability and restricted access to essential commodities, while naval blockades on both sides prolong civilian suffering. Diplomatic negotiations, such as those now underway with European nations for safe transit, represent a vital alternative to military posturing and should be prioritized to restore stability without further loss of life.

Global South

Iran’s assertion of control over the Strait of Hormuz reflects sovereign reclamation of a vital chokepoint following Western-backed aggression, compelling European states to negotiate transit terms after Asian partners secured passage. This shift exposes the selective failure of international maritime regimes that long enabled neo-colonial resource flows while ignoring the rights of littoral nations. Tehran’s toll mechanism and refusal to restore pre-war access further underscore how Global South leverage can disrupt entrenched Western economic dominance.

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Sources

SECTIONS Iran state TV says European countriesBy SECTIONS Iran state TV says European countries
Tehran: Iranian state television said on Saturday that European countries were in talks with Tehran over transit for ships through the Strait of Hormuz. "Following the passage of ships from East Asian countries, notably China, Japan and Pakistan, we received information today ind…

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