(FILES) This handout natural-colour image acquired with MODIS on NASA’s Terra satellite, shows the Gulf of Oman and the Makran region (C) in southern Iran and southwestern Pakistan, and the Strait of Hormuz (L) and the northern coast of Oman (bottom). AFP
"Non-hostile vessels... may -- provided that they neither participate in nor support acts of aggression against Iran -- and fully comply with the declared safety and security regulations -- benefit from safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz in coordination with the competent authorities," the statement said.
The IMO said Tuesday that the communique, dated Sunday, was issued by Iran's foreign ministry with the request that it be circulated by the IMO.
The IMO had shared it with member states and NGOs, it added.
The statement stressed that "vessels equipment and any assets belonging to the aggressor parties -- namely the United States and the Israeli regime -- as well as other participants in the aggression do not qualify for innocent or non-hostile passage".
It said responsibility for "any disruption, insecurity or escalation of risks in this critical waterway" lay with the United States and Israel, which it accused of waging an "unlawful and destabilising war against Iran".
Both countries, it said, had "endangered regional peace and stability and exposed international shipping to unprecedented threats".
Iran has virtually closed the vital strait to "enemies vessels" since the US-Israeli strikes that started the war on February 28, causing global oil and gas prices to soar.
Tankers fron Japan, China, India and Pakistan have already been allowed through the Srait.
Meanwhile, Britain and France will chair talks of about 30 countries this week aiming to set up a coalition mission to fully reopen the key Strait of Hormuz, UK media reported Wednesday.
A meeting of chief of defence staffs would take place later this week, the Guardian reported, quoting a defence official.
"I anticipate that at some point in the near future there'll be some kind of strait of Hormuz security conference," the official added.
The Times said the UK has offered to host a later summit in southern Portsmouth or London to hammer out details and build the coalition, which would ensure the waterway could be reopened "as soon as the conditions are right," defence officials said.
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