One Turkish vessel has passed through the Strait of Hormuz with Iran's authorization amid the waterway's blockade during the U.S.-Israel war with Iran.
Turkish Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu said on state broadcaster TRT Haber on May 13 (local time) that "one of the 15 Turkish-owned ships in the Strait of Hormuz received transit permission from Iranian authorities and passed through the strait" the previous day.
Uraloğlu noted that the remaining 14 vessels are still waiting in Hormuz. He added that approximately 800 ships from various countries, including six cruise ships, are stranded at the strait.
Earlier on May 12, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht Ravanchi told AFP in Tehran that Iran had allowed ships from certain countries to pass through the strait. He added, "From Iran's perspective, countries that participated in the aggression should not enjoy the benefit of safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz."
Meanwhile, Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, newly elected as Iran's Supreme Leader, called for a hardline response in his first official statement broadcast on state television. He said, "We must continue to use the leverage of blocking the Strait of Hormuz as a means to pressure the enemy (the U.S. and Israel)."
