The Iranian Embassy in Spain announced on Thursday that Tehran would be willing to address any request from Madrid regarding the Strait of Hormuz, noting that the Spanish government respects international law. This is the first concession of its kind offered to a country in the European Union, and it would point to the possibility of facilitating a ‘safe passage‘ for Spanish ships crossing this strategic enclave, which has been blocked since the start of the attacks by the U.S. and Israel.
“Iran considers Spain a country committed to international law, and is therefore receptive to any request from Madrid,” the Iranian embassy in Madrid announced in a message posted on its official account on the social media platform X (Twitter). The statement comes days after a note sent to the United Nations by the Iranian Foreign Ministry which, according to the Reuters news agency, stated that “non-hostile vessels” could transit the strait if they coordinate their passage with Iranian authorities.
Spain has a relatively small merchant fleet, but it was one of the first countries to condemn the attacks by the United States and Israel against Iran, calling the war reckless and illegal.
In fact, the size of the Spanish merchant fleet reached its lowest level in two decades last year; it currently consists of 91 vessels, of which six are oil tankers and 13 transport LPG, according to the most recent official data available. However, most of the 205 vessels controlled by Spanish shipowners sail under foreign flags, a common practice in the sector.
Trump gives Iran until April 6 to reopen the Strait of Hormuz
The war against Iran has virtually paralyzed shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, through which nearly one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas passes, causing disruptions in the global energy supply and a serious and growing energy crisis in Asia. A Thai oil tanker managed to cross safely following a diplomatic agreement between Thailand and Iran, while the prime minister of Malaysia stated on Thursday that his country’s ships are also being allowed to pass, suggesting that the Iranian regime is easing the blockade for certain non-belligerent countries, following diplomatic negotiations.
U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Thursday that Iran allowed 10 oil tankers to pass — including some flying the flag of Pakistan, a country attempting to mediate the conflict — as a gesture of goodwill within the framework of the alleged negotiations between Washington and Tehran.
Trump also extended the deadline for Tehran to reopen the strait until April 6 before launching his announced attacks on Iranian energy infrastructure: “I am pausing the period of Energy Plant destruction by 10 Days to Monday, April 6, 2026, at 8 P.M., Eastern Time,” he stated on his Truth Social platform. “Talks are ongoing and, despite erroneous statements to the contrary by the Fake News Media, and others, they are going very well.”
For the moment, the Iranian embassy in Madrid has not provided further details on the proposal addressed to Spain, while the Spanish government has also not officially responded to Iran’s offer to facilitate safe passage for its merchant ships through the Strait of Hormuz.
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Edited and reviewed by:
Pablo Gómez is a specialist in Turkey and has been editor-in-chief of Hispanatolia since 2011. He has been analysing current affairs and geopolitics in Turkey and the surrounding region since 2006.
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