Japanese and French Ships Successfully Transit Hormuz Strait Amid Iran-U.S. Tensions

New Delhi, April 4: The ongoing conflict between Iran and the United States has severely impacted the movement of oil and gas tankers through the Hormuz Strait. Currently, the transit of ships in this strategic waterway is entirely under Iranian control. According to Japanese media, vessels from France, Oman, and Japan have successfully navigated the Hormuz Strait since the attacks began on February 28.

The Japan Times reported that, according to the ship tracking company MarineTraffic, both vessels crossed the strait on Thursday. Three tankers, including one co-owned by a Japanese company, successfully traversed the southern route of the Hormuz Strait.

Additionally, other countries whose ships have transited include the United Arab Emirates, China, India, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Brazil, and Iraq. However, it remains unclear how many vessels Iran has approved for transit. Data indicates that out of 118 cargo ships, 37 were carrying crude oil from the Gulf.

Most of these oil tankers originated from Iran or were operating under the Iranian flag. Notably, many of the vessels carrying Iranian oil did not share their destination information via transponders. Among those that did, all but one indicated they were headed to China.

The Japan Times also noted that transponder data revealed that dozens of ships were broadcasting messages linked to Chinese crews or ownership.

Recent media reports indicated that Iran has begun charging fees for ships transiting the Hormuz Strait. Details on how the French vessel was granted passage remain unclear. However, Iran has allowed several other ships to pass, particularly from countries it considers friendly, such as India, Japan, Thailand, Greece, Malaysia, China, Pakistan, and Iraq.

In contrast, vessels flagged by the United States, Israel, the United Kingdom, and other allied nations are being denied passage through the Hormuz Strait. Iran views these countries as adversaries, believing they collaborate with the U.S. to launch attacks against Tehran.

Typically, around 100 ships traverse the Hormuz Gulf in both directions daily. Given the current circumstances, this has become increasingly challenging. Estimates suggest that between 2,000 and 3,000 ships are currently stranded, unable to pass through.

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