Iran has declared that shipping traffic through the critical Strait of Hormuz will recover to pre-war volumes within 30 days. This announcement, reported by semi-official news agency Tasnim, signals a potential de-escalation of tensions surrounding the vital waterway.
Impact of Recent Conflict on Shipping
Since the outbreak of conflict in February, shipping activity in the Strait of Hormuz has significantly decreased. Prior to the hostilities, approximately 125-140 vessels transited the strait daily. However, Iran imposed restrictions on vessel movements, asserting greater control over the strategic passage, leading to a sharp drop in traffic.
Adding to the disruption, the United States enforced a naval blockade targeting ships bound for or departing from Iranian ports. This blockade turned back numerous vessels and severely impacted Iran's oil exports, contributing to a global energy crisis.
Diplomatic Breakthroughs Hinted by US Officials
The announcement from Iran follows hints of a diplomatic breakthrough from top US officials. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking from India, indicated that significant progress had been made in negotiations with Iran regarding the Strait of Hormuz. While cautioning that discussions were not yet finalized, Rubio suggested that positive news could emerge within hours.
President Donald Trump further corroborated these developments in a post on Truth Social, stating that Washington and Tehran were nearing a deal to end the Iran war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. He noted that the final aspects and details of the agreement were under discussion and would be announced shortly.
Outline of a Potential Agreement
Rubio detailed that discussions over the past 48 hours had produced an outline for a possible agreement. This framework, if successful, aims not only for a completely open Strait of Hormuz—free of tolls—but also seeks to address core issues underpinning Iran's past nuclear weapons ambitions. He emphasized that any final arrangement would require full Iranian acceptance and compliance, with further negotiations needed to finalize details.
The potential reopening of the Strait of Hormuz is expected to alleviate pressures on international shipping and global energy markets, which have been severely affected by the conflict and subsequent disruptions.