Iran Tightens Grip on Strait of Hormuz Tanker Traffic

Iran Tightens Grip on Strait of Hormuz Tanker Traffic

Garrison Vance

Iran's joint military command warned on Thursday that all oil tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz must use routes approved by Tehran or face an "immediate and forceful response," according to a statement carried by Iranian state media. The warning also cautioned that any U.S. interference in the waterway would prompt a "rapid and decisive reaction," as reported by Middle East Eye and other outlets [14][17].

The threat came a day after U.S. and Iranian negotiators met in Qatar for another round of talks aimed at turning last month's interim agreement into a broader peace deal. Those discussions reportedly made progress, but the next round is expected only after funeral ceremonies for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei conclude next week, according to The Epoch Times [7].

Tanker traffic has recovered from the near standstill seen during the height of the conflict, but it remains well below pre-war levels. According to the Associated Press, 258 vessels transited the strait last week, up from 138 the previous week. Traffic this week has settled into roughly 30 to 60 crossings per day, still below the roughly 130 daily transits before the war, according to shipping data cited by ZeroHedge [18] and Kpler [8].

The interim agreement, signed on June 17, allows ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz without paying tolls for a 60-day grace period, according to officials. However, Tehran has made clear it intends to impose charges after that period and insists it has the authority to dictate shipping routes. Iran is seeking international recognition of its control over the waterway and its ability to charge vessels, two senior Iranian sources told Reuters [11]. Officials in Tehran confirmed that tolls will follow the grace period [12].

Washington and Gulf Arab states reject that interpretation entirely. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Iran to "abandon the fantasy" of a $40 billion toll, according to a report [10]. Some European powers, however, now accept that ships will have to pay fees to Iran and Oman, according to Bloomberg [9]. The dispute over navigation authority remains one of the most contentious issues in ongoing negotiations for a permanent agreement.

According to the Associated Press, 258 vessels moved through the strait last week, compared to 138 the prior week. Data from June 30 showed 34 verified crossings in a single day, according to Kpler [8]. The pre-war daily average was about 130 transits, indicating that current activity remains substantially below normal. The partial recovery follows months of disruption after the U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran in late February, which effectively closed the waterway.

At the peak of the crisis, over 3,000 vessels were stranded in the Persian Gulf, according to Bright Videos Network [19]. The partial reopening has allowed some stranded cargoes to depart, but the pace has been volatile, with renewed hostilities causing sharp dips. Iran has continued to restrict traffic, limiting transits primarily to vessels from nations deemed friendly, such as China and Russia, according to a report [1].

Tehran argues that the Strait of Hormuz falls under its sovereign domain and that it has the authority to direct shipping. The Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters stated that all tanker and commercial vessels must follow routes designated by Iran for safe passage, and warned that continued presence of U.S. aircraft over the strait "threatens regional security" [13][14]. Iran's top security official, Ali Bagheri, denounced Washington's "peace through force" approach as "barbaric," according to NaturalNews.com [4].

More....