The agency's interlocutors explain that Tehran wanted to gain the trust of Qatar and Pakistan, given that both countries have undertaken to mediate in the war between Iran and the US.
It is not yet clear what reasons made it possible for a Panama-flagged bulk carrier to safely pass through the strait.
Iran's IRNA news agency reported on Sunday that countries “standing with the US” and “imposing sanctions on the Islamic Republic […]will certainly have difficulty crossing the Strait of Hormuz.”
Strait of Hormuz under pressure. Cargo ship hit by a missile
However, Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Sani warned Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi in a telephone conversation that using the Strait of Hormuz as a “tool of pressure” would only worsen the crisis in the Persian Gulf.
Earlier on Sunday, the British shipping safety monitoring agency UKMTO said the cargo ship was hit by an unidentified missile while sailing more than 40 km northeast of the Qatari capital, Doha.
The UKMTO reported that the missile impact caused a small fire, which was extinguished. Vessels in the area were advised to exercise caution.
Strait of Hormuz blocked despite truce. It is crucial for trade
Although a truce has been in force between the US and Iran since April 8, the Strait of Hormuz, which is crucial for trade, remains virtually blocked. In recent days, there have been reports of mutual attacks by both sides around this area, including Iranian strikes on merchant ships.
Before the US and Israel launched their war against Iran on February 28, about one-fifth of the world's crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) were exported through the Strait of Hormuz.
