Strait of Hormuz vessel traffic remains near standstill
Updated
Updated · Reuters · May 4
Strait of Hormuz vessel traffic remains near standstill
11 articles · Updated · Reuters · May 4
On Monday, only one sanctioned LPG tanker, a few cargo ships and a cable-laying vessel entered the Gulf of Oman after President Donald Trump pledged US action.
CENTCOM said it would start restoring freedom of navigation, but Hapag-Lloyd called transit impossible and BIMCO said shippers still lacked guidance while the threat level stayed critical.
The IMO says hundreds of commercial vessels and up to 20,000 seafarers remain blocked by the Iran war, while Tehran warned ships to coordinate passage with its military.
With 20,000 sailors trapped in a naval standoff, is a humanitarian disaster the true cost of the Hormuz crisis?
As warships face off at the world's oil chokepoint, can fragile diplomacy prevent a catastrophic global conflict?
Strait of Hormuz Closure Halts 90% of Global Oil Shipments, Triggering $110+ Brent Surge and Economic Crisis
Overview
As of May 2026, the Strait of Hormuz remains closed to commercial shipping despite a U.S. naval blockade and military strikes that damaged Iranian forces. Iran enforces strict control over the strait, demanding tolls and threatening vessels with missiles and drones, which keeps the vital waterway blocked. This closure has forced global shipping companies to reroute around the Cape of Good Hope, causing severe delays, port congestion, and stranding thousands of seafarers. The blockade has driven oil prices above $110 per barrel, worsening global energy costs and disrupting fertilizer and LNG supplies, threatening food security worldwide. Diplomatic efforts, including Pakistan's mediation and U.S. appeals to China, have yet to break the deadlock, raising risks of prolonged economic and geopolitical instability.