At least three vessels transited the strait of Hormuz early on Monday via the narrow channel between Iran's Qeshm and Larak islands, according to ship tracking data.
The transits come amid tentative signs that diplomatic moves may be getting under way to resolve the de facto closure of the strait. US president Donald Trump said earlier today that he had ordered a five-day pause in planned strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure following what he described as "very good" and "productive" conversations with Iranian officials.
Two very large gas carriers (VLGCs) — Pine Gas and Jag Vasant — transited the Qeshm–Larak channel early on Monday, according to Kpler, Vortexa and MarineTraffic. The Medium Range clean products tanker Bright Gold also passed through the same gap.
Pine Gas loaded at Ruwais in the UAE almost a month ago, while Jag Vasant loaded at Mina al-Ahmadi in Kuwait around the same time. Both vessels had remained in Gulf waters for weeks before making the transit, drifting off the coast of Ras Al Khaimah in the UAE.
There is no confirmation that Iran has deployed sea mines in the strait of Hormuz. But if mines were placed in the southern portion of the strait, the Qeshm–Larak gap could serve as a narrow checkpoint for controlled outbound transits.
The two VLGCs are bound for India, according to ship tracking data.
Trump on Saturday threatened to attack Iran's power plants if the Hormuz strait was not reopened within 48 hours, but today he rowed back on that plan, postponing the strikes for five days following what he said were "very strong" talks with unidentified officials who "seem to be running" Iran.
Iranian state-linked media denied that any direct or indirect talks with the US had taken place, contradicting Trump's account and adding uncertainty to the political backdrop.
The US pause may prompt more vessels stuck in the Mideast Gulf to attempt to cross the Hormuz strait. Only a limited number of ships have made it through since the start of the US-Israeli war with Iran on 28 February.
