Iran to permit increased maritime traffic in Strait of Hormuz

Maritime Traffic Through Strait of Hormuz Increases Amid Ongoing Conflict

Ship tracking data from Windward has revealed that the number of vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz has nearly doubled in recent days, compared to previous periods. According to the company’s analysis, eight non-Iranian ships were detected in the strait on Monday, with a total of nine transits recorded by MarineTraffic on the same day.

The increase in maritime traffic is attributed to a growing number of commercial ships rerouting through Iranian territorial waters, which appears to be allowed by Tehran. This development suggests that Iran is permitting “permission-based transits” to friendly countries.

MarineTraffic data shows that daily transits by non-Iranian ships have dropped significantly since the start of the conflict between the United States and Israel in Iran. The effective halt of traffic through the strait has led to a surge in oil prices, with prices exceeding $100 per barrel, an increase of over 40 percent.

Iranian officials have issued mixed messages regarding the status of the strait, which is bordered by Iran, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman. Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Abbas Araghchi stated that the strait was “open, but closed to our enemies”, while a spokesperson for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned that ships attempting passage would be targeted.

US President Donald Trump has expressed skepticism about the need for international cooperation to unblock shipping traffic in the strait. The US military has confirmed that it conducted airstrikes on Iranian missile sites near the strait, citing concerns over anti-ship cruise missiles posing a risk to international shipping.

Source: Al Jazeera