/Agencia Anadolu
Eleven ships with Turkish links have safely crossed the Strait of Hormuz and left the Persian Gulf since the beginning of the war, according to Turkey’s Minister of Transport and Infrastructure.
In a written statement on the situation of Turkish-owned vessels in the area, Abdulkadir Uraloglu stated that Ankara is closely monitoring developments in the region, in coordination with relevant institutions.
Uraloglu detailed that the Turkish-owned vessels Yasa MoonyNejat, which had been in the Gulf since the start of the war, safely exited through the Strait of Hormuz on the morning of June 21.
These latest departures brought to 11 the number of Turkish-owned ships that have left the Gulf without incident via the waterway since the conflict began.
Uraloglu stated that Turkish authorities remain in constant contact with ship operators when necessary, emphasizing that the safety of Turkish-owned vessels is a priority.
As of June 22, a total of seven ships still remained in the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf region, with 177 Turkish crew members serving on board, the minister specified. “One of the seven vessels sails under the Turkish flag,” the authority added.
Uraloglu indicated that five ships have requested passage through the Strait of Hormuz, while two energy vessels currently have no exit request.
“The safety of Turkish ships and sailors is a priority. We continue to monitor our vessels and Turkish crew members in the region moment by moment,” the minister stated.
“All developments related to ships in the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf are being closely followed, and the relevant institutions continue their work in a coordinated manner,” he added.
In early April, Uraloglu had announced that the Turkish-owned tanker Ocean Thunder, which was carrying crude oil from Iraq to Malaysia, crossed the strait safely with the support of Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
At that time, the minister noted that several Turkish-owned vessels were waiting in the vicinity of the Strait of Hormuz and that Turkish authorities were working to ensure the safe transit of the ships and their crews.
Before the recent agreement between the US and Iran, the region had been on alert since the United States and Israel launched a joint offensive against Iran on February 28, which has left more than 3,000 dead to date, including the then Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Iran retaliated with drone and missile attacks targeting Israel, Iraq, and the Gulf countries hosting US military assets. It also restricted the movement of ships through the Strait of Hormuz.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints, as it connects the Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and global energy transport routes.
