Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has surged following recent agreement between the United States and Iran aimed at de-escalating tensions in the region. Since the deal was signed on June 18, at least 172 vessels have traversed the strait,including 42 ships on Saturday alone, according to maritime intelligence firm Kpler.
Despite this uptick,the current volume of crossings remains significantly lower than the pre-conflict average of approximately 138 daily transits. On Tuesday, ship-tracking data indicated that more than 200 tankers were waiting in the strait, with at least 10 vessels heading west into Gulf .
The price of Brent crude oil has also declined,reaching its lowest level since the onset of the conflict. The easing of the US naval blockade has allowed for increased Iranian oil exports, with at least 30 tankers departing the Gulf carrying Iranian oil and petrochemicals since agreement. The US Treasury has relaxed long-standing sanctions by issuing a license permitting the sale of Iranian crude oil and petrochemicals until August 21.
On Monday, five tankers previously sanctioned by the US for their connections to Iran moved through strait,collectively transporting up to four million barrels of oil. Martin Kelly from EOS Risk Group noted that there has also been a rise in conventional trade,with four liquefied natural gas tankers reported heading to Qatar's Ras Laffan port on Monday.
However, the majority of these transits have occurred along the Iranian-approved northern route,diverging from the US-recommended southern route near the coast of Oman. Over 250 tankers and 440 cargo ships remain in the Gulf, with more than 80% stationary or anchored. Approximately one in six of these vessels appears to be loaded with cargo.
The recent agreement commits Iran to using its best efforts to ensure the safe passage of commercial vessels for 60 days without charge. Furthermore, it stipulates that Iran will collaborate with Oman to establish future maritime governance in the strait. In a statement released on Friday, Iran's Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) mandated that no vessel may transit strait without a valid passage permit issued by authority.
Despite agreement, conflicting messages from Iranian officials have created uncertainty. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed on Saturday that the strait had been closed in response to Israeli actions in Lebanon,although some traffic continued . Conversely, Iran's ambassador to the UN stated on Tuesday that the strait was open.
Concerns about sea mines in internationally recognized shipping lanes have also contributed to the reduced traffic . The Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC), a multinational maritime group that includes the US,has warned vessels to avoid central areas of the strait due to the presence of mines. JMIC has issued alerts regarding two mines and confirmed that active clearance operations are underway.
Vessels have been advised to take a narrower southern route, which has been verified as clear of mines . Ship-tracking data showed at least four tankers using this southern corridor on Tuesday,including a Norway-flagged ship bound for Singapore and Liberia-flagged vessel heading to Taiwan. The fluctuating status of the strait, along with the ongoing mine clearance efforts,continues to influence maritime traffic in this critical waterway.
