Iran has agreed to allow 20 Pakistani-flagged ships to transit the Strait of Hormuz, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said, describing the move as a “harbinger of peace” amid ongoing regional tensions.

“I am pleased to share that the Government of Iran has agreed to allow 20 more ships under the Pakistani flag to pass through the Strait of Hormuz; two ships will cross the Strait daily,” Dar said in a post on X, calling it a constructive and confidence-building step.

Under the arrangement, two Pakistani-flagged vessels will be allowed to pass through the strategic waterway each day. Dar said the decision would help promote stability and strengthen efforts toward de-escalation. “This is a welcome and constructive gesture by Iran and deserves appreciation. It is a harbinger of peace and will help usher stability in the region,” he said, adding that dialogue and diplomacy remain the only viable path forward.

The announcement follows recent diplomatic engagement between Islamabad and Tehran. According to Reuters, Dar held a telephone conversation with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi, during which he emphasised the need for de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy to ensure lasting peace.

In recent weeks, Iran has already allowed the passage of several Pakistan-linked vessels through the strait, as Islamabad continues to play a mediating role in easing tensions between United States and Iran.

Earlier, Araghchi said Iran was not fully closing the Strait of Hormuz and would permit safe passage for vessels from countries it considers friendly, including India, Russia, China, Pakistan and Iraq. He added that several nations had requested assurances for safe transit, and Iran’s armed forces had facilitated passage in select cases.

However, he said that vessels linked to the United States, Israel and some Gulf countries involved in the ongoing Middle East conflict would not be granted passage through the crucial maritime chokepoint.

Source: India Today