AFP, London

Here are the latest facts about Iran’s control of the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial trade waterway virtually closed off by its forces in the Middle East war.

HOW ARE SHIPS CROSSING?

Maritime trackers indicate that a handful of vessels are still crossing daily through the strait, which is guarded by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) -- most of them leaving the Gulf. Some have taken a new Iranian-approved route through its waters, dubbed the “Tehran Toll Booth” by leading shipping journal Lloyd’s List. At least one vetted vessel paid $2 million to use the corridor around Larak Island just off Iran’s coast, it reported.

WHO USED THE CORRIDOR?

Lloyd’s List reported Monday that it had tracked more than 20 ships using the emerging route, most of them Greek-owned but others Indian-, Pakistani-owned or linked to China. In a sign that commodity vessels were gaining approval to use the route, since the start of last week four that crossed the Strait of Hormuz kept their AIS transponders on while using the corridor, while at least five more that crossed sent signals in close proximity to the passage, an AFP analysis of Kpler data showed.

WHAT HAS IRAN SAID PUBLICLY?

In a statement dated Sunday and released late Tuesday via the International Maritime Organization, Tehran reiterated its stance that the strait was open, but only to some. It said “non-hostile vessels” and those not “belonging to or associated with” Israel, the US and other “aggressors” could cross “subject to compliance with... the realities arising from the ongoing conflict”.

IS IRAN ACTING ILLEGALLY?

Charging fees to cross strait would “lack a valid legal basis”, Roscini said. Transit passage rights through straits remain applicable during conflicts and suspending commercial navigation through Hormuz “cannot be lawful” barring exceptional circumstances, he added.