Ship traffic resumes in Strait of Hormuz after U.S.-Iran deal

Maritime tracking data recorded 71 ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz between Friday and Sunday, with a peak of 35 crossings on Saturday. That pace remains well below the 100-to-130 vessels per day recorded before late-February strikes and the effective closure of the waterway.

The interim deal signed by Iran and the U.S. reopened the strait for commercial traffic while the two sides negotiate a final agreement within 60 days. Iran pledged to conduct demining within 30 days and remove technical and military obstacles to shipping.

routes Ships are using the smaller northern route through Iranian waters and the southern route through Omani waters because the main central channel remains mined. Many vessels are keeping transponders off or hugging Iran's prescribed route, according to data and analytics company Kpler. Kpler analysts noted that caution remains evident in vessel behavior even after the provisional reopening.

legal questions Iran established the Persian Gulf Strait Authority last month and has said it still expects vessels to register, though the interim deal bars toll collection for the next 60 days. President Donald Trump suggested the U.S. might impose its own charges if a final agreement is not reached.

>"Almost all the power goes into Iran to determine the arrangements going forward in the future. " — Philip Belcher, marine director of Intertanko, Thursday (AP) Legal experts say any future toll regime would need to comply with international maritime law.

James Kraska, a professor at the U.S. Naval War College, stated that fees cannot be imposed on vessels exercising the right of transit passage.