Back to Headlines
World Economy
Mar 23, 2026

Iran Eases Restrictions on Ship Transits Through Strait of Hormuz

AI Summary
Iran has begun allowing a small but growing number of commercial ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, according to ship tracking data. This development comes amid heightened tensions in the region and a significant decrease in traffic through the strait since the start of the US and Israel's conflict with Iran.

Iran has started to permit a limited but increasing number of commercial vessels to transit the Strait of Hormuz, as indicated by ship tracking data. On Monday, eight non-Iranian flagged vessels were detected in the strategic waterway.

This represents a notable increase, with MarineTraffic recording nine transits on Monday and Sunday, compared to just five over the preceding two days. According to Michelle Wiese Bockmann, an analyst at Windward, the growing number of ships rerouting via Iran's territorial waters suggests that Tehran is granting 'permission-based transits to friendly countries.'

The Strait of Hormuz, a critical passage that normally carries about one-fifth of global oil supplies, has seen traffic plummet by more than 95 percent since the onset of the conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran. This drastic reduction has led to a surge in oil prices, which have risen above $100 per barrel, an increase of over 40 percent.

Iranian officials have issued mixed messages regarding the strait's status. Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Abbas Araghchi stated that the strait was 'open, but closed to our enemies'. Conversely, a spokesperson for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned earlier in the month that any ship attempting passage would be set ablaze.

The situation has drawn international attention, with US President Donald Trump asserting that Washington does not require other countries' assistance to secure shipping traffic through the strait. Meanwhile, the US military reported dropping bunker buster bombs on 'hardened' Iranian missile sites located near the strait, citing the risk these posed to international shipping.