Strait of Hormuz remains relaxed: it's not just Oman and France, but also Japanese and Turkish ships passing smoothly.

More than a month after the U.S.-Iran conflict broke out, there are clear signs that the Strait of Hormuz blockade has begun to loosen.

According to CCTV News, Mitsui Co., a Japanese shipping company, said that one of its affiliated liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) vessels passed through the Strait of Hormuz before April 4 Japan time. It is understood that this is the second Japan-related vessel to leave the bay since the Strait of Hormuz was effectively blockaded.

In a prior article by Wall Street Insights, a French container ship, the CMA CGM Kribi, sailed out of the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, becoming the first known vessel associated with Western Europe to complete passage since the outbreak of the war. Previously, three Omani vessels had also successfully passed through the strait by taking the “southern route.”

Turkey also released a clearer signal of a “restoration of passage.” CCTV News, citing Turkey’s Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, said the second Turkish vessel has successfully passed through the strait in recent days.

Uraloğlu said that since the U.S.-Iran conflict began, a total of 15 vessels owned by Turkish shipowners have been stranded near the Strait of Hormuz. The first of these vessels received permission from Iran to pass in mid-March, and in recent days the second vessel has also completed passage smoothly.

The above voyages indicate that the range of Hormuz passage is expanding from countries friendly to Iran to broader international shipping. However, it is not yet clear whether this is the result of diplomatic efforts by governments of different countries, or arrangements reached by companies and intermediaries through temporary negotiations, and uncertainty remains in the overall situation.

“TRANsIT MECHANISM” EMERGES: PERMISSION, ROUTES, AND “TOLLS”

It is still unclear whether the restoration of passage comes from government diplomacy or whether companies and intermediaries have achieved results through temporary negotiations. Multiple parties are keeping silent on key details.

According to The Paper, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has begun charging “transit fees” to vessels transiting through the Strait of Hormuz, and prioritizing the release of ships it deems “friendly countries.” For ships considered part of an opposing camp, it may pose threats or even carry out attacks.

A spokesperson for Mitsui refused to comment on whether the Sohar paid a fee.

Routes are also showing a split. Most vessels have been observed passing along routes close to Iran’s coastline, but in recent days another type of route has also appeared—running along Oman’s coastline.

Reports say that the aforementioned LNG vessel and the two ultra-large oil tankers are all taking this “southern route.” The three vessels that broadcast Omani-flag information—two supertankers and one LNG vessel—proceeded along the Oman coastline and sailed into the strait via the eastbound southern-side waterway, which was described as “the largest single-day crude oil outflow since the Iran war,” and also as “the first LNG vessel attempt to go to sea.”

At the mechanism level, Wall Street Insights previously noted that Iran is drafting an agreement with Oman aimed at monitoring navigation conditions through the Strait of Hormuz. Shipping activity through the strait should be conducted under Iran’s and Oman’s joint supervision and coordination.

According to a report by Xinhua News Agency citing media in the United Arab Arab Emirates, Hazifafe, Minister of State for the UAE, said on Thursday that the UAE is willing to participate in any relevant measures to ensure safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

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