The Wall Street Journal, citing two US officials, reported that over 20 commercial ships—including cargo vessels, container ships, and oil tankers—transited the Strait of Hormuz in both directions in the past 24 hours. This marks the most significant sign of loosening since Iran declared a blockade of the waterway following the US-Israel airstrikes on Iran in late February.
However, current traffic is still a fraction of pre-war levels. Before the blockade, roughly 125 vessels passed through the strait daily. At the height of the blockade, that number dropped to single digits, stranding more than 3,200 ships and over 20,000 seafarers in the Persian Gulf.
US Navy Deploys Dual Strategy: Escort and Minesweeping
President Donald Trump earlier this week demanded Iran reopen the strait. To enforce this, the US military launched a two-pronged operation. First, naval warships conducted a “freedom of navigation” mission, transiting the strait to establish a new precedent and signal safe passage for commercial vessels. Second, US Central Command initiated minesweeping operations to clear mines planted by Iranian forces in the waterway.
Some ships that managed to pass chose to disable their Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponders to reduce the risk of being targeted by Iran. This detail underscores that even amid the apparent easing, the threat of Iranian attack remains a real concern for ship owners.
Targeted Blockade and Talks Hint
The WSJ report notes that the US is currently blockading Iranian ports but with a specific limitation: only vessels bound for Iranian ports are intercepted. Other ships can freely navigate the strait. This “targeted blockade” aims to partially restore global energy supply chains while maintaining pressure on Tehran.
Trump said in an interview on Wednesday that the US and Iran might soon begin a second round of negotiations. “It’s being arranged, but a little too slow,” he said, hinting that the second round could take place in Europe. Markets are betting on resumed talks, sending Brent crude futures down over 5% in the past 24 hours to settle at $94.39 per barrel.