Shipping Traffic in the Strait of Hormuz Surges Amid US-Iran Negotiations

Shipping traffic in the contentious waters of the Strait of Hormuz accelerated on Monday, outpacing previous levels observed before the recent discussions between the United States and Iran in Switzerland aimed at resolving the conflict.

This uptick followed reports that the Iranian government had closed a crucial waterway, coinciding with President Donald Trump’s planned visit to the country. Iranians expressed their concerns, stating, “If we shut down the country, there will be no country. We can’t even go back to our country.”

It seems they took these warnings seriously, continuing their negotiations despite the situation.

“While the latest data indicates a discernible — albeit cautious — recovery in traffic following the Memorandum of Understanding between the US and Iran, the daily patterns remain unpredictable,” noted Mikhail Todorov from shipping data company AXSMarine.

By late afternoon local time, maritime tracking platforms recorded variously 26 commercial sailings through this vital energy corridor. This figure is nearly on par with the traffic observed on Thursday and Saturday, which had been around 30 daily sailings after the formal signing of the agreement by President Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

As previously mentioned, the US-Iran deal has the potential to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and promote wider regional peace and collaboration.

Traffic levels on Saturday were reportedly at their highest since the conflict’s inception.

The Strait of Hormuz, which Iran initially closed at the start of the war, reopened on Friday following the agreement between the US and Iran. Yet, things took another turn when the Iranian government declared on Saturday that it had re-closed the key waterway in response to Israeli strikes in Lebanon.

In reaction, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) asserted that Iran “does not control the Strait of Hormuz.”

“Traffic congestion persists, and the U.S. military is keeping a close watch to ensure it continues,” stated Col. Tim Hawkins, a CENTCOM spokesman. It’s worth noting that no single nation owns the strait that runs along Iran and Oman.

The memorandum from last week permits Iran to retain control over the waterway temporarily while engaging in negotiations with Oman and six other Gulf states to “define future management and maritime services” of the strait. Furthermore, Tehran has agreed to waive tolls for vessels passing through for the next 60 days.