Turkiye Devises 5 Alternative Routes To Bypass Strait Of Hormuz - Reports

ANKARA, April 3 (Bernama-Sputnik/RIA Novosti) -- Turkiye has developed five alternative routes for oil and gas supplies to bypass the Strait of Hormuz in case of a prolonged crisis in West Asia, Sputnik/RIA Novosti reported, citing Turkish media on Friday.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said on Thursday that a new regime for the Strait of Hormuz would set rules for the passage of military and commercial vessels, adding that it was too early to discuss potential tariffs.

In light of this, Turkiye has devised five routes, which will provide an alternative to the Strait of Hormuz, involving combined land and sea corridors, the Turkiye newspaper reported. They run through Iraq and Syria, the Suez-Red Sea corridor, and there is also an option including Oman, the report said.

A longer route around Africa was also considered, it added.

This diversification of delivery routes is aimed at reducing the risks of supply disruptions, the newspaper reported.

On February 28, the United States (US) and Israel launched strikes on targets in Iran, including in Tehran, causing damage and civilian casualties. Iran responded by striking Israeli territory and US military facilities in West Asia, including in Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia.

The escalation around Iran has led to the de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for deliveries of oil and liquefied natural gas from the Persian Gulf countries to the global market, driving up energy prices.

-- BERNAMA-SPUTNIK/RIA NOVOSTI