Turkey has formally asked Iran to permit 11 Turkish-owned ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported Wednesday.
Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu provided the latest account from Ankara, saying that 14 Turkish-owned vessels remain in the strait. Of those, three are actively engaged in operations - including power generation - and are not requesting to leave, he told reporters in Ankara.
"Discussions are ongoing" for the other ships, Uraloglu said, adding that Turkish authorities are in regular contact with the crews on board. He reiterated that only one Turkish-owned vessel has been granted permission to transit Hormuz since the conflict began - a clearance that was issued because that ship had used an Iranian port, he said earlier this month.
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint, handling roughly one-fifth of global oil and gas supply. According to the account provided by Turkish officials, Iran effectively blocked the waterway following the outbreak of war on Feb. 28, a development that has halted movements of oil, gas, fertilizer and metals through the channel.
Energy markets have reacted to the disruption. Brent crude has risen about 42% since the war started, though prices have shown volatility as market participants weigh prospects for resolution. Prices declined Wednesday after President Donald Trump indicated the US could withdraw from the conflict within two or three weeks.
For now, Turkish authorities appear focused on diplomatic and operational channels to secure safe passage for their flagged vessels, while maintaining direct lines of communication with crews in the strait. Details on timelines for individual clearances were not provided by Uraloglu in his remarks.