Vessels linked to African nations are among the first non-Iranian ships to cautiously pass through the Strait of Hormuz following a fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran, even as maritime traffic remains far below normal levels and hundreds of ships continue to be stuck in the region.
Ship-tracking information indicates that only a limited number of vessels have managed to transit the strait since the truce, reflecting Iran’s continued influence over the waterway and persistent geopolitical friction involving Washington, Tehran, and global shipping operators.
A Gabon-flagged oil tanker, MSG, was one of the earliest non-Iranian ships to make the crossing after the ceasefire, transporting roughly 7,000 tonnes of fuel oil from the United Arab Emirates en route to India, according to MarineTraffic data.
Earlier, a Liberia-registered tanker named Daytona Beach also passed through the strait, leaving Iran’s Bandar Abbas port at 7:28 a.m. CET before completing its transit at 8:59 a.m. CET.
In contrast, a Botswana-flagged liquefied natural gas carrier, Nidi, reportedly reversed its course after instructions from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, highlighting ongoing uncertainty for ships attempting to navigate the passage, according to the Associated Press.
Market intelligence data from Kpler shows that only about 12 vessels have crossed since the ceasefire began, significantly lower than the typical daily flow of over 100 ships.
On Wednesday, five ships successfully transited the strait, down from 11 on the previous day, while seven crossed on Thursday, indicating that maritime traffic has yet to recover meaningfully.
Industry estimates from Lloyd’s List Intelligence suggest that more than 600 vessels, including around 325 tankers, remain stranded in the Gulf, raising concerns over prolonged supply chain disruptions and higher shipping costs.
Iran’s continued influence over the strategic waterway has triggered diplomatic engagement from several energy-dependent nations, including African countries seeking stable access to Gulf fuel supplies.
Speaking to the United Ulama Council of South Africa in Cape Town, Iran’s ambassador to Pretoria, Mansour Shakib Mehr, dismissed claims that the route had been fully shut since the conflict began on February 28.
He explained that restrictions apply mainly to vessels associated with the United States and Israel, while transit continues for other shipments under controlled conditions through the Strait of Hormuz, which handles about 20% of global crude exports from the Persian Gulf.
Mehr further stated that shipments heading to destinations such as China and India have been allowed to pass under special arrangements, adding that similar terms could potentially be extended to South Africa.
Although African producers like Nigeria and Angola are helping to cushion supply pressures in parts of the continent, their output still accounts for about two-thirds of crude demand in some markets, limiting shortages but leaving economies exposed to global price swings.
Meanwhile, countries including China, Malaysia, India, and Egypt have entered talks with Tehran to secure transit guarantees, as Iranian authorities consider formalising control measures over the strait, including a proposed fee of around $2 million per container ship.
A representative of Iran’s Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Products Exporters’ Union also suggested that shipping companies may eventually be required to pay transit charges in cryptocurrency for each barrel of oil transported through the corridor.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump criticised Iran’s handling of maritime flows, accusing it of mismanaging oil passage through the strategic chokepoint and warning against alleged charges on tankers using the route.
He cautioned that any such fees should be halted immediately, while also condemning Iran’s reported actions in the waterway.
In response, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused Washington of failing to uphold ceasefire commitments, arguing that international attention should focus on ongoing regional violence and stressing that the United States bears responsibility for its next steps.