Bloomberg

Traffic Flows Through Hormuz Despite Shock Ship Attack

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⏎ Words Summary from News
**Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz continued to flow in both directions on Friday, despite a shock attack on a container vessel that prompted some shipowners to reassess transit plans.** The attack on the Ever Lovely, which was hit while using the southern corridor along Oman’s coast, was the first since the US-Iran peace deal. Ship-tracking data showed fully laden tankers heading out of the Persian Gulf and empty crude carriers inbound, indicating that many operators remain undeterred. At least one Asian company revised earlier exit plans and told vessels to stay put, while an empty LNG carrier turned around after sailing along the Iranian route.</p><p class="summary-lead">**Iran’s foreign ministry said management of Hormuz would follow the US agreement, but its deputy foreign minister warned that safe transit without Tehran’s permission could not be guaranteed.** Prior to the attack, Iranian authorities had reiterated that journeys outside their designated transit route were not permitted, and some ships turned around after radio messages. However, an oil tanker owned by a company that had not crossed Hormuz since the war began exited the gulf just hours after the attack, signaling continued confidence. The US facilitated 80 ship crossings over June 23-24, compared to a pre-war average of 138 vessels per day.</p><p class="summary-lead">**The attack has reignited tensions over tolling and control of the strait, with the US insisting Iran must keep it toll-free for a permanent peace deal.** Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that if Iran imposed tolls, other nations could follow suit at other maritime chokepoints, leading to “chaos.” Oman, which borders the strait, has sent mixed signals—publishing a joint statement with Iran on discussing traffic administration and costs, then assuring Rubio it did not favor tolls. The IMO canceled a coordinated evacuation plan after the attack, and outbound vessels along the Omani route included an India-bound Aframax and a fully laden VLCC from the UAE.</p><p class="summary-lead">**What to watch next:** Whether Iran’s rhetoric on safe transit translates into further disruptions or a negotiated tolling framework, and how Oman’s position evolves amid US pressure.
Key Takeaways
  1. Despite a container ship attack, traffic through the Strait of Hormuz continued largely uninterrupted, with tankers and crude carriers still transiting.
  2. Iran warned that safe passage without its permission cannot be guaranteed, but the US facilitated 80 crossings in two days, showing operational resilience.
  3. The US is pressing Iran and Oman to keep the strait toll-free, warning that tolls could set a precedent for other global chokepoints.
  4. An oil tanker from a company that had avoided Hormuz since the war crossed just after the attack, signaling that some operators remain confident in security.
Insights & Analysis
  • The attack may accelerate a bifurcation of transit routes, with risk-tolerant operators using Iranian-patrolled waters while others rely on US-facilitated corridors.
  • The tolling dispute could become a central bargaining chip in broader US-Iran negotiations, with Oman’s stance as a potential swing factor in regional stability.
Key Takeaways
Insights
Teks Asli (SEO)