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.

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.

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.