According to a report by the New York Times, Iran has formally notified United Nations maritime bodies that certain vessels may resume transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

The ships that would be allowed to pass need to meet defined conditions set out by the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The communication, circulated to members of the International Maritime Organisation and the UN Security Council, states that only “non-hostile vessels” will be allowed to pass.

In the letter, ships must not “participate in nor support acts of aggression against Iran” and must “fully comply with the declared safety and security regulations.”

Iran also specifies that vessels belonging to the United States and Israel, as well as any regarded as supporting aggression, are not permitted to navigate the strait.

The letter further includes that Iran has taken “necessary and proportionate measures to prevent the aggressors and their supporters from exploiting the Strait of Hormuz.”

It adds that “the full restoration of security and sustainable stability in the strait is contingent upon the cessation of military aggression and threats.”

Since the beginning of the war on 28 February, the Hormuz Strait has been largely closed to vessel traffic, with only a limited number of ships passing through in recent days.

The latest available information shows over 120 container vessels remain stuck in the Persian Gulf. The list of potentially impacted vessels as of 24 March is available in the latest seaexplorer update.