Araghchi: Iran allows Hormuz passage for 'friendly nations' — China, Russia, India, Iraq, Pakistan named

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on March 25: 'We permitted passage through the Strait of Hormuz for friendly nations,' listing China, Russia, India, Iraq, and Pakistan as the named permitted countries. This is a landmark statement in the conflict. It transforms Hormuz from a threatened closure into a formally administered chokepoint under Iranian sovereign control — precisely what Iran's earlier demand for 'Hormuz sovereignty' under UNCLOS was building toward. The named countries are diplomatically significant: China and Russia are Iran's primary strategic partners and JCPOA framework states; India is Iran's largest oil customer and just convened an all-party meeting on the conflict's energy impact; Iraq is Iran's most important regional ally and IRGC proxy host; Pakistan is currently serving as the back-channel for Iran-US ceasefire mediation. Notably absent: the US, Israel, UAE, Saudi Arabia, UK, EU. The selective passage system has direct market implications: if China, India, and Russia (which together represent the majority of Iran's pre-war oil customers) can still receive supplies, the global energy disruption is partially contained — consistent with the Brent price decline from $119 to $98/bbl seen on Day 26. However, the explicit exclusion of Western-aligned countries formalises an energy sanctions-in-reverse: Iran is now using Hormuz access as a geopolitical instrument, rewarding non-hostile states and punishing those aligned with the US-Israel campaign. The Thai tanker transit on Day 26 was a precursor — Thailand is non-aligned and was apparently permitted. The 'friendly nations' framework is Iran's diplomatic weapon to fracture Western solidarity on the war.