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Hormuz traffic thins
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz dwindled to 33 vessels from Monday to Thursday this week, versus 50 in the week-ago period, as markets watched talks between Iran and Oman for signs of progress in reopening the waterway.
“dwindled to 33 vessels from Monday to Thursday this week”
Reuters reported that four vessels transited the strait on Thursday, including a very large crude carrier, Nissos Kea, carrying about 2 million barrels of Basrah crude loaded in Iraq, according to Kpler data.
The Reuters piece also said just six crude oil tankers have exited the strait this week, while a total of 21 vessels have entered it so far, mostly via the Iranian route.
In a separate report, Bloomberg said oil extended gains after a report that Iran attacked “hostile targets” in the Strait of Hormuz and that Tehran was seeking to bar US ships from the critical waterway in a deal with Oman.
Iran-Oman deal disputes
Multiple outlets tied the low traffic and market uncertainty to a proposed Iran-Oman framework that would manage access to the Strait of Hormuz while Iran seeks to bar US and Israeli ships.
The Spokesman-Review said Iran will seek to bar U.S. and Israeli ships from the Strait of Hormuz and require compensation from hostile countries before they’re allowed to use it, while Fars news agency reported the text was under review in Iran’s parliament.
In the Financial Post, Thomas Warrick said, “Instead of both sides making concessions, both sides are increasing demands,” as the agreement text was described as being under review in Iran’s parliament.
The Financial Post also quoted Trump saying of the waterway, “We control it, but they can always shoot something,” as it described US insistence on free transit and a return to the pre-war status quo.
Fees, enforcement, and risk
Alongside the Iran-Oman negotiations, Iranian media described a draft approach that would impose restrictions and fees on shipping, with enforcement and definitions still unclear.
“Violators could face fines reaching 20% of the value of their cargo”
Ynetnews reported that Iran’s parliamentary National Security Committee was reviewing a preliminary “strategic plan for managing the Strait of Hormuz” that would bar Israeli and American vessels and impose heavy fines, including fines reaching 20% of the value of cargo.
The BBC said the draft law would stipulate fines of up to 20 percent of the ship’s cargo value for violations, while also noting the legislation was still under expert review and Parliament had invited specialists to provide recommendations before finalizing the draft.
The BBC also described how the war’s regional spillover continued, with Houthi militants in Yemen claiming missile strikes that killed at least 58 members of the Yemeni government forces, as Iran-backed Houthis targeted “Saudi mobilizations” in government camps.
