Hormuz crossings hit post-conflict high but remain 85 per cent below normal

Five weeks after US and Israeli strikes on Iran, Tehran still holds effective control over passage through the Strait of Hormuz, allowing only limited vessel movements despite mounting international pressure to restore full transit. 

Data cited by Windward showed 20 crossings through the strait in a 24-hour period on Sunday, with 14 vessels heading towards the Indian Ocean and six entering the Gulf.  

That was the highest daily total since hostilities began on February 28, although it remained far below the historical average of 138 crossings per day. 

However, the latest movements do not point to a normal reopening. Reuters reported on April 4 that Iran had authorised passage for vessels carrying essential goods to its own ports, provided they coordinated with the authorities and complied with specific protocols.  

Two days later, however, Reuters said Iranian forces halted two Qatari LNG tankers that had been heading towards the strait, underlining how fragile and selective the current arrangements remain.  

Iran has maintained that vessels with no US or Israeli links may be allowed through, but the broader route remains heavily restricted. Reuters has described the strait as having been effectively shut since the conflict erupted, even if some individual crossings have taken place.  

Diplomatic efforts have meanwhile stepped up. In an official statement published on April 2, the British government said Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper had convened a meeting of more than 40 countries, together with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and the European Union, to discuss a coordinated response.  

According to the statement, participants examined options including greater diplomatic pressure on Iran, possible economic and political measures, and cooperation with the IMO to help free ships and seafarers trapped by the disruption.  

The IMO has also warned of the growing humanitarian cost. The organisation said it has confirmed 21 attacks on commercial shipping since February 28, with 10 seafarers killed, while around 20,000 civilian seafarers remain aboard vessels in the Persian Gulf.  

IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said fragmented responses would not be enough, calling instead for coordinated international action based on practical and neutral solutions.  

Uncertainty also remains over any future transit regime. While the UK said countries on the April 2 call rejected the possible imposition of tolls on ships seeking to pass, there is still no clear, independently verified framework showing that such a system has formally taken effect.