Tankers Pass Through Strait of Hormuz After Iran’s Brief Reopening
At least eight oil and gas tankers crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday following Iran’s announcement that it was temporarily reopening the crucial maritime route amid a ceasefire in the Middle East conflict, according to maritime tracking data.
The vessels included one crude oil tanker, four liquefied petroleum gas carriers, two oil and chemical tankers, and one classified as an “oil products” ship. The movement came after Iran declared the passage open on Friday afternoon, ending a near-total halt in traffic that had persisted since the outbreak of hostilities on February 28.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most vital oil chokepoints, with roughly a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas passing through in peacetime. The conflict, sparked by US and Israeli strikes on Iran, had brought shipping to a standstill, trapping hundreds of vessels in the Gulf and driving up both oil prices and freight costs.
While several crude oil tankers were observed approaching the strait, some turned back near Iran’s Larak Island, a key checkpoint under Tehran’s blockade. Iran’s central military command later reversed the reopening decision, stating it would resume “strict management” of the strait in protest at a US naval counter-blockade.
Among the ships that passed through on Saturday were at least three under US sanctions. Some vessels broadcast destinations linked to India or China, signaling neutrality. MarineTraffic also recorded the passage of the cruise ship Celestyal Discovery, believed to be operating without passengers, marking the first such transit since the conflict began.
The shipping industry responded cautiously to the reopening. Jakob Larsen, chief security officer of BIMCO, warned that the status of mine threats in the area remained unclear and advised companies to consider avoiding the region.
The brief reopening highlights the fragile nature of maritime security in the Gulf, where geopolitical tensions continue to disrupt global energy supplies and trade flows.
