Iran Grants Bangladesh Safe Passage Through Strait of Hormuz Strait of Hormuz open for BangladeshAmid Conflict

This decision comes at a critical time as global energy markets face a severe supply shock due to the conflict.

According to reports by NDTV and Reuters, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi clarified on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, that the waterway is not completely closed. Instead, Tehran has established a selective passage regime. Bangladesh has now been added to a "green list" that includes China, Russia, Pakistan, India, and Iraq. Araghchi emphasized that while friendly nations can transit after coordination with Iranian authorities, the strait remains strictly closed to "enemy vessels"—specifically those linked to the United States, Israel, and their direct military allies.

The Strait of Hormuz is the world's most important oil chokepoint, through which approximately one-fifth (20%) of the world's total petroleum and liquefied natural gas (LNG) consumption passes daily. Iran's decision to grant Bangladesh safe passage is expected to stabilize the country's fuel and fertilizer imports, which have been under threat since the outbreak of hostilities on February 28.