Washington, April 4: Tensions in the Gulf region remain high. In this context, U.S. President Donald Trump indicated on Friday that the Hormuz Strait could be reopened to capitalize on oil profits, citing signs of gradual improvement in maritime traffic.
In a social media post, Trump stated, “With a little more time, we can easily reopen the Hormuz Strait, take oil, and make big profits. This will prove to be a ‘game changer’ for the world.”
His comments come as new data suggests a cautious return of vessels to this strategic waterway, which is crucial for global energy supply. According to maritime intelligence firm Windward, 16 ships passed through the Strait on April 1, marking the third consecutive day of recorded traffic after significant disruptions.
Separate data indicated that 16 cargo ships transited the area on Wednesday, up from 11 the previous day. While this suggests a slow recovery, traffic levels remain significantly lower than before the conflict.
The disruptions began in mid-March when Iran enforced a mandatory navigation corridor monitored by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), forcing vessels to alter their routes and operate under Iranian oversight.
Recent ship movements indicate that some operators are beginning to test these restrictions. Windward reported that as of April 2, approximately 656 vessels were present in the Arabian Gulf, with 55% being cargo ships and 45% tankers. Traffic remains unbalanced, with only one vessel entering while eight exited, predominantly consisting of container cargo and oil tankers.
Three vessels under Omani control bypassed the Iranian-controlled corridor, navigating through international routes. One of these, an LNG tanker, reached Sohar near Muscat, becoming the first LNG ship to pass through the Strait since the escalation of conflict.
A container ship associated with French logistics company CMA CGM also traversed the Strait, marking an early example of vessels linked to Western nations after the tightening of restrictions.
Windward’s report highlights the dominance of the so-called flag-of-convenience registry in the area. Panama leads with 142 vessels, followed by Liberia (95), the Marshall Islands (93), and Iran (37), reflecting a mix of commercial and higher-risk shipping profiles.
Ownership patterns of these vessels remain unclear. The report indicates that the actual owners of ships passing through the Strait are linked to China, India, Turkey, and Iran, while approximately 25% of the vessels have unknown ownership, complicating monitoring and control efforts.
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