Iran agrees to UN request for humanitarian safe passage through Strait of Hormuz

ISTANBUL

Tehran has agreed to a UN request for a safe transit of humanitarian vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian media reported on Friday.

"Iran agrees to the UN request for safe transit of ships carrying humanitarian goods through the Strait of Hormuz," Times of Tehran reported through US social media company X, citing Iran's ambassador to Geneva.

Hostilities in the region have escalated since the US and Israel launched a joint offensive on Iran on Feb. 28, killing more than 1,340 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Tehran has retaliated with waves of drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets, inflicting casualties and infrastructure damage while disrupting global markets and aviation.

Iran has also effectively closed to most ships the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil transit route that normally handles about 20 million barrels per day and roughly 20% of global liquefied natural gas trade.