Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi on Thursday said Tehran has allowed ships from select countries to trasit the Strait of Hormuz, according to a report.
"Some countries have already talked to us about passing the strait and we have cooperated with them," AFP quoted Takht-Ravanchi as saying in an interview.
He denied allegations about Iran laying mines in the Strait, saying it is closed during the war. "Not at all. This is not true," he said.
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However, he said Tehran will not allow enemy countries to use the Strait. "As far as Iran is concerned, we feel that those countries that joined the aggression should not benefit from safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz," he added.
The minister said Iran wants to ensure that it will not be targeted in another war in the future.
"We want to see that war is not going to be imposed again on Iran. When the war started last June, after 12 days there was so-called cessation of hostilities… but after eight or nine months, they regrouped and they did it again," he added.
India is reportedly among the countries whose vessels were allowed safe passage via the Strait of Hormuz. However, the Ministry of External Affairs stated that it is "premature to say anything".
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar spoke with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi thrice in recent days regarding the safety of energy supplies and vessels.
At least 28 Indian-flagged vessels with 778 Indian sailors aboard were operating west and east of the Strait as of Wednesday, according to the ministry.