Iran tells UN: 'Non-hostile' ships can transit Strait of Hormuz

Iran has told the United Nations Security Council and the International Maritime Organization that "non-hostile vessels" may transit the Strait of Hormuz if they coordinate with Iranian authorities, according to a note seen by Reuters on Tuesday.

The U.S.-Israeli ‌war against ⁠Iran has ⁠all but halted shipments of about one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas through the strait, causing oil supply disruption.

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The note from Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs was sent to the 15-member Security Council and U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday. It was then circulated on Tuesday among the 176 ⁠members of ‌the London-based U.N. shipping agency responsible for regulating the safety and security of international shipping and preventing ⁠pollution.

"Non-hostile vessels, including those belonging to or associated with ​other States, may - provided that they neither participate ​in nor support acts of aggression against Iran and fully comply with the declared safety and security regulations - benefit from safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz in coordination with the competent Iranian authorities," it read.

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Iran has "taken necessary and ‌proportionate measures to prevent the aggressors and their supporters from exploiting the Strait of Hormuz to advance hostile ​operations against ​Iran," the note read, ⁠adding vessels, equipment, and any assets belonging to the U.S. or Israel, "as well as other participants in the aggression, do not qualify ​for innocent or non-hostile passage."

The Financial Times first reported that the letter had been circulated among IMO member states on Tuesday.