Ship-tracking data shows only a handful of vessels have crossed the strait since the truce, underscoring continued Iranian control of the waterway and growing geopolitical tensions involving Washington, Tehran and global shipping operators.

Gabon tanker passes as Botswana vessel turns back

The Gabon-flagged oil tanker MSG was among the first non-Iranian vessels to transit the strait after the ceasefire, carrying about 7,000 tonnes of Emirati fuel oil bound for India, according to MarineTraffic data.

A Liberia-flagged tanker, Daytona Beach, also crossed earlier, transiting at 8:59 a.m. CET after departing Iran’s Bandar Abbas port about an hour earlier at 7:28 a.m. CET.

By contrast, a Botswana-flagged liquefied natural gas tanker, Nidi, reversed course after attempting to travel out of the Persian Gulf via a designated route before being directed by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, according to the Associated Press.

Iran has required ships to coordinate movements with the Revolutionary Guard and follow specified routes through the strait amid security risks.

Data from market intelligence firm Kpler shows at least 12 vessels have crossed the strait since the ceasefire, far below the usual daily volume of more than 100 ships.

Five vessels crossed on Wednesday, down from 11 the previous day, while seven transited on Thursday, indicating traffic has not meaningfully recovered.

More than 600 vessels, including about 325 tankers, remain stranded in the Gulf, according to Lloyd’s List Intelligence, raising concerns about prolonged supply disruptions and rising shipping costs.

South Africa seeks arrangement as Iran outlines access

Iran’s continued control of the strait has prompted diplomatic outreach, including from African economies reliant on Gulf energy supplies.

Addressing the United Ulama Council of South Africa in Cape Town, Iran’s ambassador to Pretoria, Mansour Shakib Mehr, said reports that the energy supply chain had been closed since the start of the conflict on February 28 were inaccurate.

He said only vessels linked to the United States and Israel were being restricted from sailing through the strait, which carries about 20% of crude oil originating in the Persian Gulf.

Mehr added that Iranian authorities had allowed Chinese- and India-bound shipments to continue under specific conditions and that the same “special arrangement” could be extended to South Africa.

Despite African supply cushion, risks persist

Despite Nigeria and Angola cushioning supply disruptions across parts of Africa, the two producers supply roughly two thirds of crude demand in some markets, helping limit immediate shortages but leaving the continent exposed to global price volatility.

Countries including China, Malaysia, India and Egypt have opened discussions with Tehran to secure passage through the waterway, as Iranian officials weigh plans to formalise control of the route, including proposals for a toll of about $2 million per container ship.

A spokesperson for Iran’s Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Products Exporters’ Union also indicated that shipping firms may be required to pay Iran a levy in cryptocurrency for each barrel of oil transported through the strait.

US-Iran tensions keep oil lifeline constrained
US President Donald Trump criticised Iran’s management of oil transit, writing: “Iran is doing a very poor job, dishonorable some would say, of allowing Oil to go through the Strait of Hormuz.”

He also warned: “There are reports that Iran is charging fees to tankers going through the Hormuz Strait – They better not be and, if they are, they better stop now!”

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, meanwhile, accused Washington of failing to honour the ceasefire. “The world sees the massacres in Lebanon,” Araghchi said in a post on social media. “The ball is in the US court, and the world is watching whether it will act on its commitments.”