Overview
- Traffic through the strait, which restarted under a two‑week ceasefire on Wednesday, remains sparse with only four AIS‑tracked passages and more than 800 ships still stuck in the Persian Gulf.
- Iran’s Revolutionary Guard warned of sea mines and published hazard zones, and the London insurance market still classifies the area as high risk, so shipowners and insurers are waiting for concrete security guarantees.
- Tehran is signaling control and exploring passage fees, with reports of crypto payments or per‑barrel charges, while the European Commission says any toll would breach the right of free navigation under maritime law.
- President Donald Trump is pressing NATO capitals for firm commitments to help secure the route, and Ukraine says its military has joined consultations and is sharing defensive expertise with Gulf states.
- Costs for trade are rising as oil prices edge up and carriers add surcharges, and Hapag‑Lloyd says schedules could take six to eight weeks to normalize even if safer transit resumes soon.