Anchorage Near the Strait of Hormuz in Muscat, Oman

Iran has implemented a selective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, allowing passage for designated allies while blocking the United States, Israel, and countries that supported attacks against Iran in late February. This strategic restriction of one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints has disrupted global energy flows and pushed oil prices above $100 per barrel.

The Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) declared the strait closed to the U.S., Israel, and their supporters following military actions taken by the U.S. And Israel in late February. However, the closure has not been absolute. On April 6, 2026, the Iranian Embassy in Malaysia announced via a post on X that the first of seven stranded Malaysian ships had safely navigated the waterway.

We had said that the Islamic Republic of Iran does not forget his friends

Iranian Embassy in Malaysia

Impact on Global Shipping and Energy

The restriction of the strait has caused a dramatic decline in maritime traffic. Before the onset of the war, approximately 135 vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz daily. According to the Financial Times, that volume fell to a total of 116 crossings for the entire period between March 1 and March 25, 2026.

This reduction in transit has unsettled energy markets, threatening economies that rely heavily on Middle Eastern energy exports. The resulting volatility has contributed to the rise of oil prices exceeding $100 per barrel.

As a result of these disruptions, ships have been seen gathering at the Muscat Anchorage in Oman. On March 30, 2026, oil tankers and high-speed crafts were observed anchored at the site as police speed boats patrolled the port.

U.S. Response and Diplomatic Tensions

The Trump administration has sought to characterize the closure as a temporary problem and the increase in energy prices as a blip. On March 26, 2026, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the strait could be open tomorrow if Iran stops threatening global shipping.

President Donald Trump has issued a deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Failure to comply with this deadline will result in U.S. Bombs targeting Iranian civil infrastructure. President Trump has further claimed that Iran is militarily defeated and has suggested that the United States could charge tolls for passage through the waterway.

The U.S. Administration has argued that the United States is relatively less dependent on Middle Eastern oil, framing the closure as a problem for the rest of the world to resolve. This position follows efforts by President Trump to recruit warships from NATO allies to secure the strait, efforts which were rebuffed by those allies.

Alternative Navigation Routes

In response to the IRGC’s control over the standard northerly path through the strait, some vessels have attempted alternative routes. On April 2, 2026, three tankers broadcasting Omani ownership were observed exiting the Strait of Hormuz by hugging the coastline of Oman.

This new route along the Oman coast suggests that some vessels are attempting to bypass the primary areas of Iranian control to maintain the flow of goods, and energy.