Strait of Hormuz Transits Resume Amid Safety Concerns
After nearly four months of effective closure, the Strait of Hormuz has seen a tentative resurgence of maritime activity, with 25 transits recorded on Thursday and three more logged by MarineTraffic in the early hours of Friday.
US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding
The US-Iran memorandum of understanding, brokered by Pakistan and signed late Wednesday, established a 60-day negotiating window covering a broad portfolio of issues, including Iran’s nuclear programme. However, the diplomatic architecture underpinning the MOU is already showing fractures, with Iranian state outlet Fars reporting that Tehran had placed the core element on hold.
The White House did not acknowledge the claim directly but confirmed late Thursday that vice president JD Vance has postponed his anticipated trip to Switzerland, where he had been due to meet Iranian negotiators on Friday. No revised timeline has been given.
Operational Side
Iran’s Supreme National Security Council confirmed that the country’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority would move to issue fast authorisations for vessels wishing to transit in line with the MOU, with mine clearance measures to follow. Ships were advised to adhere to the paths and timings allocated by the authority.
CENTCOM announced it had lifted the blockade on all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports in accordance with the president’s direction, adding that US naval assets would remain in the general area to ensure all aspects of the agreement are followed.
Safety Concerns
The Joint Maritime Information Center has lowered its threat assessment for the strait to moderate and confirmed it is open, while warning of continuing mine risk and noting the confirmed location of one specific device. Crucially, JMIC advises vessels to avoid the international traffic separation scheme — the normal transit route — and has provided alternative routing through inshore traffic zones, warning of congestion on those corridors.
- BIMCO issued a detailed caution on Thursday, urging owners not to rush.
- Iran and the US have now agreed to permit transits through the Strait of Hormuz, but significant safety and security risks still persist.
- The central part of the Strait is mined and un-navigable, and only the inshore traffic zones close to Oman and Iran are reportedly free of mines.
Larsen flagged the MOU itself as raising more questions than it answers, citing gaps around safe routes, traffic separation, sequencing of vessels departing the Gulf, and emergency response procedures. BIMCO is calling for an international coordination body to be established to manage the transit process and is encouraging owners to wait for its direction rather than attempt passage independently.