Iran Hormuz Passage: shipping industry mistrusts politics
According to data providers and industry observers, a rapid normalization of shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, which is important for global energy trade, is not in sight. As the broadcaster CNN reported, citing traffic data, only five cargo ships and one empty cruise ship have passed through the strait since Tehran officially cleared it, but no oil tankers.
18.04.2026, 09:54
SDA
According to John-Paul Rodriguez, an expert on maritime shipping at Texas A&M University, conflicting status reports are deterring shipping companies from passing through. Rodriguez told Al Jazeera: "Since the announcement, ships have tried to pass through the strait... but it looks like many of them are turning back because the situation is unclear." Large shipping companies would probably not feel comfortable passing through the strait until the "current Iranian closure is completely lifted".
Iran had closed the waterway on February 28, 2026 after the start of the military conflict with Israel and the USA. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi declared on Friday that the passage was open for trade as part of the ceasefire. However, Tehran attaches conditions to this. Ships must obtain permission from the Iranian Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) and remain on fixed routes. It is unclear whether they will also have to pay a toll.
At the same time, the USA is maintaining its naval blockade, which only applies to ships with a port of departure or destination in Iran. It will remain in place "until our agreements with Iran are fully concluded", wrote US President Donald Trump on the Truth Social platform.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf then warned that the Strait of Hormuz would not remain open if the US blockade of Iranian ports continued.
The analysis service Kpler wrote on Platform X that the political announcements of both sides deviated greatly from the operational reality. A return to normality and the restoration of confidence in the insurance markets will take months.
