Two crude supertankers appear to have crossed the Strait of Hormuz using the Oman-side route even as overall tanker traffic slowed after renewed U.S.-Iran clashes, showing that a narrow shipping corridor is still functioning while the wider waterway remains under pressure.
The movement matters because it is the practical test behind the diplomatic fight. Washington is demanding that Iran publicly say Hormuz is open, ships will not be attacked, and no tolls will be imposed. Tehran says any opening or maritime arrangement in the strait must run through Iran. Meanwhile, tanker operators are deciding hour by hour whether the route is safe enough to use.
Bloomberg, published by World Oil, reported that the Nissos Kea and Nissos Heraclea, both controlled by Greece-based Kyklades Maritime Corp., appeared to cross the strait despite the renewed fighting. Ship-tracking data showed one vessel entering the Persian Gulf after its signal had stopped near the waterway, while the other made the opposite move.
The report said partial position data suggested the ships most likely used the southern route through Hormuz, close to Oman’s coastline. That is significant because the United States has been encouraging ships to use the Omani side while rejecting Iran’s claim that vessels must follow Tehran-designated routes.
The Corridor Is Moving, but Barely
This is not a sign that Hormuz is back to normal. Reuters, via Channel NewsAsia, reported that daily tanker traffic appeared to slow Friday after the United States and Iran exchanged hostilities and renewed their dispute over control of the waterway.
Before this week’s attacks, tanker traffic had climbed to an average of about 40 ships a day, according to the Reuters report. That was still far below the pre-war average of 125 to 140 daily sailings. The International Energy Agency said global oil supply rose by 4.1 million barrels per day in June as shipping through the strait resumed, but remained 9.4 million barrels per day below pre-war levels.
The new slowdown came after Washington accused Iranian forces of attacking three Qatari and Saudi shipping vessels in the area. The United States then struck Iranian military sites, and Iran responded by attacking U.S. military sites in Gulf states. Oil prices eased Friday but were still on track for weekly gains of 4% to 5%.
Why the Oman Route Matters
The Oman-side route has now become more than a navigation choice. It is a direct challenge to Iran’s argument that it alone controls access through the strait. Bloomberg reported that U.S. Central Command said American forces had helped facilitate the transit of 380 million barrels of oil since early May, while several ships using the Omani route in recent days had come under attack from Iran.
That creates the core risk for shippers: the route may be the safest available path, but it is also the route most likely to test Iran’s red lines. A vessel that follows Tehran’s preferred northern route may face U.S. sanctions or insurance complications. A vessel that follows the Omani route may face Iranian pressure or attack.
The diplomatic track is trying to catch up with that reality. The Associated Press, published by The Hindu, reported that U.S. officials want Iran to publicly declare the strait open and free for transit. Iran’s U.N. ambassador said activity in the strait, including opening or demining operations, rests exclusively with Iran.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is in Oman for talks focused on shipping mechanisms in Hormuz. But the latest vessel movements show why those talks are urgent: the strait is not closed, but it is not safely open either. Cargo is still moving through a narrow and contested corridor, and every successful transit now doubles as a political signal.