Strait of Hormuz Declared Closed Again by Iran

On Saturday, Iran announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz once more. Yet, despite this declaration, a number of tankers—including very large crude carriers (VLCCs) and liquid natural gas (LNG) vessels—continued their passage through this crucial waterway.

The strait had seemingly reopened earlier in the week after President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed a memorandum of understanding to lay the groundwork for a potential peace agreement.

However, mere days later, Tehran indicated that the strait was closed again, coinciding with ongoing conflicts involving Israel and Iran’s proxy group, Hezbollah, in Lebanon.

In response to Iran’s actions, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) asserted that the nation does not control the Strait of Hormuz. “Traffic congestion continues, and the U.S. military is monitoring the situation closely,” stated Colonel Tim Hawkins, a CENTCOM spokesperson.

According to CENTCOM, international navigation remains secure, with 55 commercial vessels having successfully traversed the strait and delivering more than 17 million barrels of oil to the global market. The organization also emphasized that U.S. forces remain vigilant to adhere to the agreement with Iran.

In its latest updates, the Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) downgraded the danger level for the strait to “moderate,” indicating that it was still open for navigation.

JMIC also noted that traffic is “increasing,” although regional military activities and interference with navigation systems necessitate ongoing caution. The Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) have been conducting operations impacting navigational safety.

Reports have surfaced indicating that, as of Monday, oil and LNG tankers were continuing to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, and traffic was showing signs of gradual recovery. Specifically, four Qatari-controlled LNG tankers and two supertankers loaded with crude oil were reported to have crossed the area, with one of them heading to Iraq’s Basra port.

China’s Ministry of Maritime Affairs confirmed that two South Korean-operated vessels had also navigated through the strait since the MOU was signed, though specifics were scarce due to safety considerations.

Despite Iran’s repeated claims of closure, maritime intelligence firms noted that commercial traffic continued unhindered throughout the weekend. Notably, Windward’s analysis highlighted that even prior to the closure announcement, high-visibility traffic had stalled significantly, signifying a level of caution among ship operators.

The overall situation in the Strait of Hormuz reflects a complicated balance—marked by ongoing tensions and cautious navigation among commercial vessels, even amid the conflict rhetoric. It’s a bit unclear how things will evolve from here, but the strait remains a focal point of international maritime activity.