Three supertankers from Saudi Arabia have successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil shipping route, after a two-month period of concealed movement. This event follows a deal signed by U.S. President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian aimed at reopening the strait.
Despite this development, traffic through Hormuz has not seen a substantial increase, with Matt Smith from Kpler noting that there is no mass exodus of ships. The Saudi tankers, classified as Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs), are headed to Japan and South Korea, while the destination of one vessel remains unclear.
Kpler estimates that if confidence in the Iran deal grows, up to 118 tankers currently in the Persian Gulf could exit through Hormuz within 15 days, with a potential for a dozen tankers to enter daily within 30 days. However, this forecast still falls short of pre-war traffic levels.
The Joint Maritime Information Center has downgraded its threat assessment for the strait but warns that attacks remain a possibility, and mines in the area continue to pose a risk. The behavior of Iran's Revolutionary Guard has reportedly become less volatile since the announcement of the deal, which could influence future shipping activities in the region