Around 90 vessels, including oil tankers, have passed through the Strait of Hormuz since the war with Iran began, as the country continues exporting millions of barrels of oil despite partial closure of the strategic waterway, maritime and trade data show.
Many vessels were “dark” transits, evading Western sanctions and likely linked to Iran, Lloyd’s List Intelligence reported. More recently, ships from India and Pakistan have also passed through after diplomatic talks with Tehran.
Oil prices surged above $100 per barrel, prompting US President Donald Trump to urge allies to send warships and reopen the strait to ease market pressure. Most shipping traffic has halted since early March, and about 20 vessels have been attacked in the area.
Despite this, Iran exported over 16 million barrels of oil since March 1, with China remaining the main buyer due to sanctions-related risks. Analysts said Iran has used its control over the strait to maintain exports and profit from oil sales.
Lloyd’s List Intelligence reported that of the 89 vessels passing the strait between 1-15 March, 16 were oil tankers and more than one-fifth were Iran-affiliated. Pakistan- and India-flagged ships also successfully crossed, following negotiations with Tehran.
Experts say Iran has effectively created a “safe corridor” near its coast for selected ships, while selectively restricting others. Oil market analysts warn that Iran may continue limiting tanker movements to maintain high energy prices.
