Eight Countries in Talks with Iran Over Oil Tanker Safety in the Strait of Hormuz
Eight countries are currently in negotiations with Iran to establish a mechanism ensuring the safety of oil tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy shipping route.
According to an Iranian security source, these countries are not from the Middle East and have proactively reached out to Tehran to discuss. The possibility of creating a maritime safety framework for oil tankers transiting the strait.
The proposal is linked to shipments of crude oil traded in Chinese yuan (RMB).
Yuan-Based Oil Transport Mechanism Under Consideration
The source said the talks were prompted by reports that Iran is considering a plan to allow vessels from countries. Using the yuan for oil transactions to pass through the Strait of Hormuz without interference.
However, the specific list of the eight participating countries has not been disclosed.
According to insiders, Tehran is also exploring a broader approach—not only ensuring tanker safety but also. Managing maritime traffic in this strategically important waterway.
Risk of Disruption to a Critical Oil Transit Route
Previously, Iran declared it would target vessels associated with:
- The United States
- Israel
- Their allies
In effect, this move has created a form of blockade along the Strait of Hormuz.
The strait handles approximately 20% of global oil supply. Meaning any disruption could trigger significant volatility in energy markets and push oil prices higher.
Tensions Escalate as Iran Deploys Naval Mines
Sources indicate that Iran has begun deploying naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz.
This action has further complicated maritime security in the area and may hinder future efforts to fully reopen the oil transit route.
Ensuring the safety of oil tankers in the strait is therefore becoming an urgent issue for countries heavily dependent on Middle Eastern energy supplies.
Iran Warns Conditions Unlikely to Return to Normal
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on March 18, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Speaker of Iran’s Parliament, stated that the situation in the Strait of Hormuz is unlikely to return to pre-conflict conditions.
This statement underscores the ongoing high level of tension in the region, suggesting that international negotiations to secure tanker safety may be prolonged.
