Iran Orders Ships to Cooperate in Hormuz as Seizure Near Fujairah Deepens Oil Route Crisis
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · May 14
Iran Orders Ships to Cooperate in Hormuz as Seizure Near Fujairah Deepens Oil Route Crisis
14 articles · Updated · The Guardian · May 14
Abbas Araghchi said commercial vessels entering the Strait of Hormuz must cooperate with the Iranian navy after a ship anchored off Fujairah was seized by “unauthorised personnel” and taken toward Iranian waters.
The demand comes as Iran has largely closed the strait since the US-Israeli bombing campaign and a US counterblockade of Iranian ports, leaving thousands of ships stranded on a route that once carried about a quarter of seaborne oil and gas.
China has already begun moving tankers through under a new arrangement with Iran, according to Tehran, with limited charges reported at about $1 a barrel—signaling some acceptance of Iran’s changed shipping rules.
Diplomatic pressure is building at the UN, where more than 110 countries back a Bahrain-US Security Council resolution condemning Iran’s blockade and demanding it stop attacks on shipping, remove mines and drop proposed tolls.
Araghchi used a Brics meeting to urge support against the US and Israel, but a pro-Iran communique is not expected, underscoring Tehran’s limited backing even as Gulf states push for unrestricted navigation.
With China's oil tankers now paying Iran for passage, has the US blockade of Hormuz already failed?
As diplomacy fails and prices soar, can international law prevent the Strait of Hormuz from becoming a toll road?
2026 Hormuz Blockade: Iran-U.S. Standoff Triggers Global Oil and Shipping Paralysis
Overview
In April 2026, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) seized the container ship MSC Francesca near the Strait of Hormuz, damaging the vessel in what appeared to be a direct response to the U.S. seizure of an Iranian oil tanker. This triggered escalating tensions in the Middle East, leading to major disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. As a result, the global economy was severely impacted, with oil markets, shipping operations, and supply chains all suffering. The crisis caused a significant decline in global oil consumption, highlighting the vulnerability of international trade to regional conflicts.