Shipping companies remain cautious about resuming operations through the Strait of Hormuz despite a preliminary agreement aimed at reopening the critical waterway, which has been effectively closed since late February amid escalating U.S.-Iran tensions. The closure followed U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran, which triggered retaliatory assaults by Iran against vessels navigating the strait, a key route for global oil and gas shipments.
The potential accord between the United States and Iran, expected to be signed in Geneva, is intended to end the hostilities and restore passage through the strait. However, shipping firms have expressed reluctance to resume deliveries without clear guarantees of safety and operational details. The agreement, described by Iranian officials as a memorandum of understanding, has not been fully disclosed, with several contentious issues deferred to future negotiations, including Iran’s nuclear program.
Industry leaders underscore the need for explicit assurances from Iran that vessels will not face attacks. S.V. Anchan, chairman of Safesea Group, noted that two of his company’s ships in the Persian Gulf have been attacked since the conflict began, with one vessel permanently out of commission and the other still awaiting departure. Similarly, Harry Vafias, CEO of Stealth Gas, whose three vessels have been stranded in the gulf for over three months, expressed guarded optimism but remained skeptical about the agreement’s potential to restore normal shipping operations promptly.
U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the strait was partially open as of Monday and projected a full reopening by Friday following mine clearance efforts. He also asserted that the strait would be “permanently toll-free.” In contrast, Iranian officials indicated an intent to levy fees for unspecified services within the strait, emphasizing a legal distinction between tolls and service charges.
Currently, approximately 500 large commercial vessels remain anchored in the Persian Gulf, according to ship tracking firm Kpler. The Japanese Shipowners’ Association, which reported 38 Japanese-affiliated vessels stranded, has called for more concrete information before considering transit. Likewise, Andreas Enger, CEO of Norwegian shipping company Hoegh Autoliners, emphasized that the announcement alone does not suffice for a return to operations and forecast a potentially lengthy period before resuming maritime traffic.
International maritime authorities acknowledge the agreement as a positive development toward restoring security. Arsenio Dominguez, head of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), highlighted the necessity of implementing safety guarantees and coordinating the evacuation of some 11,000 seafarers stranded in the region. Developing clear, safe shipping routes and an orderly schedule for vessel movements are also critical to avoiding navigational hazards, as noted by Jakob P. Larsen, chief security officer at Bimco, the world’s largest shipping association.
The question of whether ships should navigate closer to the Iranian or Omani coastlines also remains unresolved, with some vessels having departed near Iran under apparent Iranian consent, while others coordinated with U.S. naval forces near Oman. Shipping companies are awaiting definitive frameworks and safety assurances before committing to large-scale resumption of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, emphasizing that permitted transit must be accompanied by confirmed security measures to mitigate risks.