Mumbai: Iran has said vessels from friendly nations, including India, will be allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, even as the United Nations urged an end to the conflict in West Asia and called for the key shipping route to reopen.

Passage permitted for ‘friendly nations’

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Thursday confirmed that passage has been permitted for vessels belonging to friendly countries.

The Consulate General of Iran in Mumbai said in a post, “Iran FM Abbas Araghchi: We permitted passage through the Strait of Hormuz for friendly nations including China, Russia, India, Iraq, and Pakistan.”

The development follows earlier remarks from Iran’s mission in New York on March 25, which stated that “non-hostile vessels” would be allowed safe passage through the strategic waterway.

In a post on X, the mission said, “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.”

UN warns of global impact, urges end to war

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres raised concerns over the continued disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, warning of wider global consequences.

In a post on X, he said, “The prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz is choking the movement of oil, gas, & fertilizer at a critical moment in the global planting season. Across the region & beyond, civilians are enduring serious harm & living under profound insecurity. The UN is working to minimise the consequences of the war. And the best way to minimise those consequences is clear: End the war - immediately.”

Direct messages to US, Israel and Iran

Guterres also issued a direct appeal to the United States and Israel to halt the conflict, while urging Iran to refrain from attacks beyond the conflict.

“My message to the US & Israel is that it's high time to end the war - as human suffering deepens, civilian casualties mount & the global economic impact is increasingly devastating. My message to Iran is to stop attacking their neighbours that are not parties to the conflict,” he said.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Defence Council has stated that the transit of “non-hostile vessels” through the Strait of Hormuz will now be strictly dependent on prior “coordination with Iranian officials”.