Five ships, including three tankers and two other vessels, crossed the Strait of Hormuz on April 9, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence. This figure falls significantly short of Iran’s pledge to allow a minimum of fifteen ships daily during the two-week ceasefire agreement with the U.S. and Israel. Pre-war traffic typically averaged 130 to 160 ships daily.
Iran’s Control Over Strategic Waterway
The low ship count highlights Iran’s effective control over the Strait, despite the ceasefire. While U.S. military operations have ceased, Tehran continues to restrict access, demanding army approval for passage and instructing crews to navigate minefields. Iran has also imposed tolls paid in cryptocurrency or Chinese yuan, further complicating maritime trade.
"Any ship needs army approval to pass so crews can be told where to avoid the mines," said Saeed Khatibzadeh, Iran’s deputy foreign minister, formalizing the de facto closure.
Negotiations Amidst Rising Tensions
The Strait’s restricted traffic underscores Tehran’s leverage in negotiations set to begin Friday. Despite Trump’s optimism about a peace deal and Israel’s agreement to talks with Lebanon, Iran’s actions suggest a strategic calculus aimed at maintaining dominance over the critical waterway. The S&P 500 reversed losses on the news, while oil prices remained volatile, reflecting market uncertainty over the Strait’s openness.