The number of vessels crossing the strait of Hormuz with their transponders switched on has risen to at least five in the past 24 hours after a slight easing of Iran's de facto blockade.
Three dry bulk vessels — the Zea, Glykofiloussa and Neraki — crossed the northern section of the strait eastbound between Qeshm and Larak islands, according to MarineTraffic data. Market participants have indicated that the Qeshm–Larak gap could serve as a narrow checkpoint for controlled outbound transits.
The Niba, a VLGC, also crossed the strait from west to east. And the NJ Jupiter, a Supramax, transited westbound. A further VLGC, the Salute, is currently heading eastbound towards the strait but has not yet crossed. Other vessels appear to have switched off their AIS transponders on approach, including the Rastanplan, a container ship that went dark off the coast of Kuhestak in Iran, east of the strait.
Argus tracked only two vessels passing the strait daily on 24–25 March. Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araqchi has reiterated that the waterway remains open except to Iran's "enemies".
"In our view, the strait of Hormuz is not totally closed," Araqchi said in a televised interview aired late on Wednesday. "It is only closed for our enemies."
Araqchi said Iran has permitted passage for vessels from "friendly countries, including China, Russia, India, Iraq and Pakistan".
