Stranded ships begin transiting the Strait of Hormuz again

Some commercial ships have begun transiting the Strait of Hormuz again after an interim U.S.-Iran agreement, according to maritime data and news reports. The reopening is limited, but it marks the first clear sign that traffic is starting to move through one of the world’s most important energy chokepoints after months of disruption.

Lloyd’s List Intelligence said on June 18 that stranded ships had started moving through the waterway again after 110 days. AP reported that major shipping groups including Grimaldi Group, Cosco, Knutsen and NYK were among those resuming passage, along with two sanctioned Iranian tankers.

Partial reopening

The return of traffic does not mean the strait is back to normal. AP and The Guardian both reported that the main central route through the Strait of Hormuz remains closed because of about 80 naval mines.

Instead, ships are being routed through narrower passages in Iranian and Omani waters. Those alternate routes can handle less traffic than the central channel, which means the flow of vessels remains constrained even as transits resume.

AP said maritime data firms observed 17 ship crossings over two days and estimated that about 550 merchant ships were preparing to exit the Persian Gulf. The Guardian reported that roughly 600 vessels remained stuck in the Gulf, showing how much traffic is still waiting for clearance.

The Strait of Hormuz matters far beyond the region. Before the conflict that prompted the interim agreement, it carried about a fifth of the world’s crude oil, making even a partial disruption a concern for energy markets, insurers and shipping companies.

What changed

AP reported that the U.S. Navy has lifted its blockade as part of the interim agreement, helping open the way for limited transit. But the operational picture remains incomplete because mine hazards and route restrictions are still in place.

The chronology also suggests a slow recovery rather than an immediate return to normal. AP reported that energy experts expected oil and gas supplies to take months to normalize, even after the deal. That forecast now appears consistent with the limited, cautious resumption of traffic.

Fees and follow-through

Another unresolved issue is whether Iran will impose new costs on passage. The Guardian reported that Iran plans to begin charging maritime fees for ships using the strait in about two months, which could add legal and commercial friction for shippers.

The wider market implications are still unfolding. A gradual reopening could ease pressure on oil and gas flows, but any renewed congestion, delay or safety incident would keep the route fragile and could ripple through global freight and energy pricing.

For now, the key question is whether the limited movement seen since June 18 expands into broader traffic or stalls again. The next signals to watch are additional ship crossings, progress on mine clearance and whether the central traffic lane can be reopened.

Until then, the Strait of Hormuz remains only partly open: vessels are moving, but the passage is still constrained, and normalization is not yet in sight.