Ships resume transiting the Strait of Hormuz after U.S.-Iran deal, data show

Commercial vessels have begun transiting the Strait of Hormuz again after a U.S.-Iran interim agreement ended the war between the two countries, according to maritime data and reporting from AP and The Guardian. The first crossings mark an early sign that one of the world’s most important shipping chokepoints is reopening, though traffic remains constrained.

AP reported that Lloyd’s List Intelligence said major shipowners had started moving vessels through the strait again after 110 days of disruption. The revived traffic included ships from Grimaldi Group, Cosco, Knutsen and NYK, according to the report.

First crossings

The developments came on the same day that Guardian live coverage said MarineTraffic data showed at least seven vessels had crossed the strait. That was still far below the prewar average of about 135 ships a day, underscoring how limited the recovery remains.

The Guardian also reported that U.S. Central Command said it had lifted the blockade on maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports and coastal areas. Pakistan’s prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, said the deal took immediate effect and that Iran would reopen the strait while the United States lifted its naval blockade.

Route still restricted

Despite the return of some ship traffic, AP said the central route through the Strait of Hormuz remains closed. Vessels are using northern and southern alternative passages through Iranian and Omani waters instead.

Lloyd’s List estimated that about 550 merchant ships were preparing to exit the Persian Gulf, including 160 tankers, 200 bulk carriers, 60 container ships and 10 vehicle carriers. That volume suggests the reopening could unfold gradually rather than all at once.

AP also reported that two Iran-flagged, National Iranian Tanker Company-owned sanctioned crude oil tankers entered the strait. The report said the movement showed Iranian-linked traffic was also beginning to resume under the new arrangement.

What remains unclear

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical route for global oil and natural gas shipments, and the disruption there had created a severe energy-market shock during the conflict. Any sustained reopening could ease pressure on shipping and energy markets, but the alternative routes have limited capacity compared with the main channel.

AP said it could take weeks or months for the strait’s central corridor to fully reopen. The key unanswered questions are whether mine clearance will advance, how quickly carriers will return to full-capacity transits and whether the partial reopening holds.

For now, the immediate shift is clear: ships have started moving again through the strait, but normal traffic has not yet returned.

Timeline

The live reporting tracked the shift across June 18. Guardian live coverage began following the U.S.-Iran agreement early in the day, then later said at least seven vessels had crossed the strait. AP published its report at 15:44 UTC, saying stranded ships had begun transiting again. By the time of the latest verified updates, the reopening was still partial and the central corridor remained closed.

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