No more than 15 ships daily: Iran sets traffic limit for Strait of Hormuz

Iran will cap traffic through the Strait of Hormuz at 15 vessels per day under a ceasefire deal with the United States, after months of disruption that had driven up global oil prices.

In Short

• Iran IRGC to supervise Hormuz passage with strict approval, fees
• Iran limits traffic to 15 vessels daily under US ceasefire deal
• Plan includes $1 per barrel fee, payable in cryptocurrency

Iran will allow no more than 15 vessels a day to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, through which nearly 20 per cent of global oil trade flows, as part of a ceasefire agreement with the United States, Russia’s state-run TASS news agency reported on Thursday, citing an unnamed senior Iranian source. This would mark a sharp nearly 90 per cent drop in shipments through the strategic waterway.

Before the war, around 140 vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz each day, a 34-km-wide channel between Iran and Oman that connects the Gulf to the Indian Ocean. It is critical not only for oil shipments but also for commodities such as fertilisers and petrochemicals and disruption in this vital route hits global markets.

"This movement is strictly contingent upon Iran's approval and the enforcement of a specific protocol. This new regulatory framework, operating under the supervision of the IRGC, has been officially communicated to regional parties. There will be no return to the pre-war status quo," the source told the Russian news agency.

Iran had largely shut down traffic through the strait since the United States and Israel launched a military campaign in late February, triggering a sharp spike in global oil prices and fuelling fears of supply shortages. Reopening the waterway was a key component of the ceasefire agreement both sides agreed to on Wednesday.

However, Tehran has made it clear that it will retain tight control over the passage. Under the terms outlined, vessels will be required to seek permission from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps and pay a fee to transit the strait.

During the two-week ceasefire period, Iran is expected to charge USD 1 per oil barrel, reportedly payable in cryptocurrency, highlighting its intent to both exert influence over the chokepoint and recoup costs incurred during the recent US-Israeli strikes.

Uncertainty over the long-term regime governing the strait has also deepened after US President Donald Trump said Washington was considering a “joint venture” with Iran to levy transit fees.

In another development, the US asked its European partners to present detailed plans within days on how they intend to help secure navigation through the strait.

On Wednesday, within hours of the agreement to pause fighting, Iran halted the passage of oil tankers in response to Israeli strikes on Lebanon, underscoring the fragility of the arrangement.

- Ends