Key facts
- Nearly a third of vessels crossing the Strait of Hormuz in recent days have used a route along Oman's coast.
- Commercial shipping is resuming slowly through an Omani corridor despite Iranian patrols.
- The UN's International Maritime Organization suspended its evacuation framework following attacks on merchant shipping.
- A Singapore-flagged container ship reported being struck while using the Omani passageway on June 25.
- The IRGC warned vessels against using the Omani corridor, stating only Iranian-designated routes are authorized.
- Brent crude oil prices fell more than 5% on June 26 amid optimism about the strait reopening.
Commercial shipping is slowly resuming through an Omani corridor in the Strait of Hormuz, despite Iranian patrols and warnings. Maritime tracking data indicates that nearly a third of vessels crossing the waterway in recent days have utilized this route along Oman's coast.
Between Friday and Sunday, 108 vessels transited the strait, with 30, including crude and LPG tankers, opting for the Omani route. Traffic peaked on Friday with 43 crossings, followed by 34 on Saturday and 31 on Sunday. Analysts describe the activity as "operational but fragmented," emphasizing the "still-fragile security and diplomatic backdrop."
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) vessels remain active around the chokepoint's southern route. This activity follows recent attacks on merchant shipping that led to the suspension of an evacuation plan for stranded seafarers. The UN's International Maritime Organization (IMO) paused its evacuation framework after a Singapore-flagged container ship reported being struck while using the Omani passageway on June 25.
IMO secretary-general Arsenio Dominguez is seeking assurances from Iran, Oman, and the US that vessels will be respected regardless of the corridor they use. The shipping lanes in the center of the strait remain unusable due to mines, leaving the temporary corridors as the only option. Experts suggest these routes could handle up to 80 vessels daily, compared to approximately 130 in peacetime.
Despite the IRGC's warnings against using the Omani corridor, stating only Iranian-designated routes are authorized, traffic has been increasing since June 15. The price of Brent crude oil fell over 5% on June 26, partly due to optimism about the strait's reopening. However, experts caution against declaring the crisis over, with ongoing negotiations between Iran and the US for a long-term settlement.