US and Iran give shipowners conflicting Hormuz orders

Shipowners crossing the Strait of Hormuz are being pulled between conflicting instructions from Iran and the United States, according to reporting from the Financial Times and the Associated Press.

Iran is telling vessels to seek permission from Tehran and follow its preferred route near the Iranian coastline under a transit system tied to the Persian Gulf Strait Authority. U.S.-aligned shipping and insurance advice, by contrast, is steering vessels toward the Omani side of the strait, where U.S. military support is described as the Guardian Angel route.

The result is a difficult operational choice for ship operators. Complying with Iranian demands could expose them to U.S. sanctions risk. Ignoring Tehran’s instructions could raise the chance of interference by Iranian forces or other harassment in the waterway.

Iran's new transit regime

Iran created the Persian Gulf Strait Authority earlier this year as part of a push to exert more control over traffic through the chokepoint. A Wall Street Journal report on May 5 said vessels were told to obtain prior authorization and follow the new transit guidance.

AP reported on June 23 that shipping through Hormuz is rising, but remains below prewar levels. The outlet said the passage was closed during the crisis and that Iran introduced tolls through the new authority, a move opposed by the United States.

The AP report also said ships are using alternate northern and southern routes because the main central channel still has lingering mines. That leaves the waterway open, but still far from normal for commercial carriers.

Competing guidance for shipowners

The FT said the most immediate problem for shipowners is that the route advice now points in opposite directions. Tehran wants vessels to go through its preferred lane and obtain permission first. U.S.-aligned guidance says the safer course is to use the Omani side.

Marine insurers are part of the calculation. Some are backing the U.S.-aligned advice, reflecting concern that following Iran’s system could create sanctions exposure or complicate coverage.

For operators, neither option is clean. Following Iran’s instructions may satisfy Tehran’s transit regime but risk penalties from Washington. Taking the U.S.-favored route may reduce sanctions exposure but could increase the chance of Iranian interference.

Why the strait still matters

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important shipping lanes, especially for oil and bulk cargo. That makes even a limited dispute over routing, tolls or authorization a broader commercial issue, not just a bilateral political one.

The stakes extend beyond individual voyages. Any disruption in the strait can affect global oil and cargo flows, and uncertainty over tolls, authorization and enforcement could slow a broader recovery in traffic.

What remains unclear

Several key questions remain unresolved. It is still unclear how strictly Iran will enforce the new mechanism, whether tolls will be collected in practice, and how many ships will settle on each corridor.

The next signals to watch are formal guidance from the United States or maritime authorities, any clarification from Iran on authorization and route requirements, changes in insurer terms, and any incidents involving ships using either side of the strait.