Oil Tankers Resume Transit Through Strait of Hormuz Amid US-Iran Tensions

Three oil supertankers passed through the Strait of Hormuz on April 11, 2026, marking the first significant exit of non-Iranian oil vessels since the start of the war between Iran and the United States and Israel. The movement of these ships occurred amid a fragile ceasefire established on April 8, 2026, following a period of blockade that disrupted global energy supplies.

Shipping data from the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) identified the vessels as the Liberia-flagged Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) Serifos, and two China-flagged VLCCs, the Cospearl Lake and the He Rong Hai. Each of the three vessels is capable of transporting 2 million barrels of oil. The tankers exited the Hormuz Passage trial anchorage, a route that bypasses Iran’s Larak Island.

The Serifos is chartered by the Thai state-owned energy firm PTT. According to data from LSEG and the analytics firm Kpler, the Serifos is one of seven vessels for which Malaysia sought clearance from Iran to transit the strait. The tanker is carrying crude oil loaded from the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia in early March and is scheduled to arrive at Malaysia’s Malacca Port on April 21, 2026.

Impact of the Hormuz Blockade

The Strait of Hormuz serves as a critical chokepoint for approximately 20 percent of the world’s liquefied natural gas and oil shipments. Iran’s blockade of the waterway began following the outbreak of war with the United States and Israel at the end of February 2026, leading to a sharp increase in global oil prices.

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The closure has resulted in a massive maritime backlog. According to data provided by the International Maritime Organization, nearly 20,000 mariners have been stranded in the Persian Gulf during the crisis. Approximately 3,200 vessels have accumulated west of the strait, including 800 cargo ships and tankers that remained idling while operators awaited confirmation of safe passage.

Ceasefire Tensions and Diplomatic Friction

The transition back to open shipping has been marked by significant diplomatic tension. While a U.S.-backed ceasefire was reached on April 8, 2026, the implementation of the agreement regarding the reopening of the waterway was initially stalled. On April 9, 2026, President Donald Trump criticized Iran’s compliance with the truce.

Iran is doing a very poor job, dishonorable some would say, of allowing Oil to go through the Strait of Hormuz. That is not the agreement we have!

President Donald Trump

Reports from April 10 indicated that oil traffic remained effectively halted despite the ceasefire. Analyst Matt Smith of Kpler noted that no oil products were passing through the strait at that time, stating that the waterway remained closed for all intents and purposes, providing Iran with continued leverage.

Parallel diplomatic efforts have also faced setbacks. A U.S. Delegation recently departed Pakistan without reaching a deal with Iran. Following the conclusion of these talks, JD Vance issued remarks regarding the failure to secure an agreement.

Current Status of the Waterway

Despite the transit of the three supertankers on April 11, the truce remains described as fragile. President Trump has stated that the Strait of Hormuz will reopen soon as warships transit the area, though Iran has continued to issue threats. The UN maritime chief has stated that Iran must not charge tolls for vessels utilizing the Strait of Hormuz.

While the passage of the Serifos, Cospearl Lake, and He Rong Hai represents the largest non-Iranian oil exits since the conflict began, the broader resumption of oil exports from Middle East producers remains dependent on the stability of the ceasefire.