JOHANNESBURG — African-linked vessels have begun cautiously transiting the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz following a fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran, even as traffic through the vital oil route remains significantly below normal levels.
Shipping data shows that only a handful of non-Iranian vessels have successfully crossed the waterway since the truce, underscoring continued Iranian control over one of the world’s most important oil transit corridors. The strait typically handles about 20% of global crude oil flows from the Persian Gulf.
Among the first to pass was a Gabon-flagged oil tanker carrying approximately 7,000 tonnes of fuel oil from the United Arab Emirates to India. A Liberia-flagged tanker also completed its journey after departing Bandar Abbas port.
However, not all vessels have been granted passage. A Botswana-flagged liquefied natural gas tanker was forced to turn back after attempting to exit the Gulf, reportedly following instructions from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which is currently overseeing maritime movements in the area.
Iranian authorities have required all ships to coordinate their transit with the Revolutionary Guard and adhere to designated routes, citing heightened security concerns.
Despite the ceasefire, maritime traffic remains sharply reduced. Industry data indicates that only about a dozen vessels have crossed the strait since the agreement, compared to the usual daily average of more than 100 ships. More than 600 vessels, including over 300 tankers, remain stranded in the Gulf, raising fears of prolonged supply disruptions and escalating shipping costs.
Iran has maintained that restrictions apply only to vessels linked to the United States and Israel, while signalling openness to negotiated access for other countries.
Speaking in Cape Town, Iran’s ambassador to South Africa, Mansour Shakib Mehr, dismissed claims that energy supply routes had been completely shut down since the conflict began in late February. He indicated that arrangements allowing shipments to countries such as China and India could potentially be extended to South Africa under specific conditions.
The situation has prompted diplomatic engagement from several nations reliant on Gulf energy supplies, including China, Malaysia, India and Egypt, as they seek assurances from Tehran for safe passage.
Meanwhile, Iran is reportedly considering measures to formalise its control over the strait, including the possible introduction of transit fees for commercial shipping, potentially payable in cryptocurrency.
Tensions between Washington and Tehran remain high despite the ceasefire. Donald Trump criticised Iran’s handling of oil transit, warning against any imposition of fees on tankers. In response, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused the United States of failing to uphold its commitments under the truce.
Although major African oil producers such as Nigeria and Angola have helped cushion supply disruptions across parts of the continent, analysts warn that Africa remains vulnerable to global price shocks as uncertainty persists around one of the world’s most critical energy lifelines.
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