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The United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire on April 7, 2026, aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for 20% of global oil supply. Initial ship passages occurred, but traffic remains low due to Iranian coordination requirements and toll demands. Iran halted oil tanker movements following reported Israeli ceasefire violations, including strikes in Lebanon.
Substrate placeholder — needs reviewU.S. attacks in exchange for the complete, immediate, and safe opening of the Strait of Hormuz. The strait, which handles about 20% of the world's oil supply, had seen traffic drop to a handful of vessels per day since the war began on February 28, 2026.
The first vessels to pass through since the ceasefire were the Greek-owned bulk carrier NJ Earth and the Liberia-flagged bulk carrier Daytona Beach, both carrying dry cargo rather than oil, according to MarineTraffic data. Traffic through the strait has not significantly increased post-ceasefire.
Experts note that volumes remain 90% below pre-war levels, with only 72 vessels transiting during the week of March 30 to April 5, the busiest period since the conflict started.
Approximately 80% of those ships were connected to Iran, and 13% were owned by China, per Lloyd's List data.
requires vessels to coordinate passage with its Armed Forces and adhere to technical limitations.
The country plans to inspect each ship for weapons and demand tolls from shipping firms for oil tankers, payable in cryptocurrency, according to a spokesperson for Iran's oil, gas, and petrochemical products cited by the Financial Times. A marine insurance executive expressed concern over these tolls as a potential barrier to normalized traffic. U.S.
officials confirmed the strait's openness following diplomatic negotiations. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated at a press briefing that the path for ships is clear, while Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Dan Caine affirmed this based on the agreement.
“The strait is open.”
President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that the U.S. would assist with traffic buildup and supply loading to ensure smooth operations. He described the agreement as enabling Iran's reconstruction and positive economic action.
halted oil tanker passages through the strait after Israel's reported ceasefire breach, including airstrikes, according to Iran's Fars News Agency. Iranian state media, citing unnamed security sources, indicated that Iran is weighing responses to these violations and may withdraw from the ceasefire if attacks on Lebanon continue, per Tasnim News Agency.
This halt occurred despite initial post-ceasefire transits, creating confusion in the maritime industry. Oil analyst Matt Smith from Kpler predicted only 10-15 vessels might pass daily, similar to recent paces, due to ongoing Iranian vetting. Shipping company Maersk issued a statement noting limited details on ceasefire conditions and adopting a cautious approach without altering services.
Hundreds of vessels remain stranded in the region since the war's onset, involving U.S. and Israeli actions against Iran.
The war, which began on February 28, 2026, followed Iranian attacks on commercial vessels, effectively closing the strait. Pre-war, 100 to 120 commercial vessels, mostly oil tankers, transited daily, per Kpler data. New Zealand's foreign minister, Winston Peters, met U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on April 7, 2026, requesting U.S. fuel tankers for the Pacific to mitigate economic and fuel pressures from the conflict.
Peters emphasized significant impacts on New Zealand and Pacific nations.
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