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According to a report on the Financial Times website on the 22nd, more than 400 ships are anchored in the waters off the eastern side of the Strait of Hormuz, waiting for the full reopening of this vital energy transport route following negotiations between Iran and the United States. Due to the ceasefire arrangements and related security mechanisms not yet being fully implemented, the global shipping industry remains cautious about the prospects for the Strait of Hormuz to fully resume navigation.
Satellite data from the European Space Agency shows that around 441 vessels of large tanker size were gathered in the waters near Oman’s Port of Sohar and the UAE’s Port of Fujairah on the afternoon of the 21st, awaiting the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. The report states that this number is significantly higher than normal levels but is 42 fewer than five days earlier.
After Iran and the United States previously announced a memorandum of understanding, some shipping companies took advantage of the easing tensions to resume transit. However, following Israel’s attack on Lebanon, Iran again announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Delegations from the United States and Iran held talks on the 21st local time in Bürgenstock, Switzerland. Currently, both sides are continuing technical consultations. Citing a senior US diplomat, American media reported that the discussions included “clarifying some confusing information from Iran regarding the Strait of Hormuz and establishing a conflict de-escalation mechanism to ensure the strait remains fully open.”
The Financial Times website reported that although a final agreement has not yet been reached, confidence among some shipowners has already recovered. On the morning of the 22nd, a total of four Qatari LNG carriers passed through the Strait of Hormuz, the highest single-day number since the outbreak of the US-Israel-Iran conflict at the end of February. Additionally, after the US agreed to lift its maritime blockade on Iran, Iranian oil tankers have been moving in and out of the Gulf more smoothly.
The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman and is one of the world’s key energy transport channels. Market analysts believe that the normalization of shipping traffic still depends on whether a final agreement between Iran and the US can be reached and whether the regional security situation can continue to improve.
