European Nations Seek Hormuz Access Talks With Iran as 20% of Global Oil Trade Stays at Risk
Updated
Updated · Marine Insight · May 18
European Nations Seek Hormuz Access Talks With Iran as 20% of Global Oil Trade Stays at Risk
13 articles · Updated · Marine Insight · May 18
European governments have opened talks with Iran’s Revolutionary Guards navy to secure passage for their ships through the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iranian state television.
Iran has kept tight control over the waterway since war with the US and Israel erupted on Feb. 28, and says traffic will not return to pre-war conditions despite an April 8 ceasefire.
Dozens of ships from East Asian countries including China, Japan and Pakistan have already been allowed through after agreeing to Iran’s new “strait management” protocols, while the European countries involved remain unnamed.
Iranian officials say only commercial vessels and countries cooperating with Tehran will benefit from the new system, which includes tolls and excludes the US-linked naval escort operation.
About one-fifth of global oil and LNG shipments normally pass through Hormuz, leaving shipping operators, governments and energy markets watching whether Iran turns wartime controls into a lasting regime.
Iran is charging millions for safe passage. Is this the future of maritime security or a prelude to a wider conflict?
With nations paying Iran's 'Tehran Toll,' is a new world order for global trade being forged in the Strait of Hormuz?
Iran’s Postwar Strait of Hormuz Management: Energy Crisis, Shipping Down 95%, and Global Economic Fallout
Overview
The 2026 war between Iran, the United States, and Israel triggered major disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy chokepoint. After the outbreak of conflict in February, shipping and energy markets faced severe uncertainty as Iran asserted new control over the Strait. Despite a fragile ceasefire in April, the disruption deepened inventory deficits and pushed oil prices above $126 per barrel. Full normalization of flows is now delayed into 2027. The situation remains closely watched worldwide, as Iran’s actions have reshaped maritime management and created lasting impacts on global trade and energy security.