Iran authorizes limited Strait of Hormuz transit as tensions persist

Thursday 14 May 2026 - 16:18

About 30 vessels have crossed the Strait of Hormuz with Iranian authorization since Wednesday, signaling a partial resumption of maritime traffic through one of the world’s most strategic shipping lanes despite ongoing geopolitical tensions and stalled diplomatic efforts. Iranian state television reported the development on Thursday, framing it as a controlled reopening under stricter oversight.

A naval official from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said Tehran’s position on what it describes as hostile vessels remains unchanged. Such ships are not permitted to pass without approval. Iranian authorities have recently formalized a permit system for all transiting vessels through a newly established Strait Authority in the Persian Gulf, tightening control over maritime movement in the chokepoint.

Among the vessels that crossed was the Chinese supertanker Yuan Hua Hu, carrying roughly two million barrels of crude oil from the Middle East. Tracking data indicated the vessel moved along Iran’s Larak Island before entering the Gulf of Oman. Iranian media reported that several Chinese ships were cleared through coordinated arrangements involving Chinese diplomatic officials in Tehran, reflecting continued energy trade flows despite regional instability.

A Japanese crude carrier, the Eneos Endeavor, also completed a passage after spending weeks in the Persian Gulf loading oil from the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait. The vessel temporarily ceased transmitting its location before reappearing in the Gulf of Oman, highlighting heightened caution among commercial operators navigating the area.

Two liquefied petroleum gas carriers bound for India also transited the strait with their transponders turned off, according to shipping data reported by monitoring services. Their routes originated from Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, and their passage added to at least nine large tankers and gas carriers that have exited the waterway since the weekend, underscoring volatile and uneven shipping flows.

Iranian officials continue to reject claims that it is obstructing maritime traffic. The foreign minister said Tehran has not imposed any barriers and blamed the United States for what he described as an unlawful naval blockade. US Central Command has reported rerouting dozens of commercial vessels and restricting maritime activity since mid April, while global shipping traffic through the strait has dropped sharply compared with pre crisis levels, when more than 100 ships passed daily.