Commercial vessels traverse the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing Iranian restrictions

Since late February, Iran has largely blocked the Strait of Hormuz in response to US-Israeli military strikes, allowing passage only for vessels deemed non-hostile. On Thursday, several ships, including a CMA CGM container ship named Kribi and a Japanese LNG carrier, successfully transited the strait. These vessels reportedly utilized a specific route near Larak Island, referred to as the 'Tehran Toll Booth' by Lloyd's List Intelligence, with some reports alleging that transit fees were paid to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. To secure passage, the French vessel updated its AIS identification to 'Owner France', while other ships were observed disabling their transponders. While Oman has acted as a diplomatic intermediary between the US and Iran, President Emmanuel Macron stated that only diplomatic efforts, not military operations, could resolve the maritime blockage. This transit marks the first significant passage by a major European shipping group since the blockade began in early March. Approximately 20 percent of the world's crude oil and LNG typically passes through this chokepoint during peacetime.