Blockade

Iran is consolidating control of Hormuz with checkpoints, diplomatic deals, and fees

With Iran now in de facto control of the strait, the system can involve government-to-government arrangements, intense vetting by the Iranian government, and sometimes fees in exchange for passage.

 A drone view shows the Malta-flagged tanker Agios Fanourios I, an oil tanker that sailed through the Strait of Hormuz, arriving in Iraq's territorial waters off Basra, Iraq, April 17, 2026.
Vessels in the Strait of Hormuz near Bandar Abbas, Iran, May 4, 2026.

Islamic regime launches Persian Gulf Strait Authority, ships reportedly start paying tolls

Hapag-Lloyd sign on a container ship at the Valparaiso port, Chile, January 11, 2024.

Shippers Hapag-Lloyd, CMA CGM suspend Cuba bookings after US executive order

US Chair of the Joint Chiefs, Gen. Dan Caine, addresses the Senate Appropriations Committee on the Pentagon's budget request, May 12, 2026; illustrative.

Pentagon considering renaming Iran war 'Operation Sledgehammer' if ceasefire fails - report


US renews Russian oil waiver after pressure from countries dealing with Iran war price shocks

The Treasury Department's waiver lets countries purchase Russian oil and petroleum products loaded on vessels as of Friday through May 16.

An aerial view shows the oil tanker named Boracay (also called Pushpa), a vessel being investigated by French authorities and suspected of belonging to the so-called "shadow fleet" involved in the Russian oil trade, off the coast of the western France port of Saint-Nazaire, France, October 2, 2025

Five tankers seen loading oil on Iran's Kharg Island, as US blockades Strait of Hormuz - report

Another five tankers, loaded with approximately 9 million barrels of oil, were spotted in the Gulf of Oman earlier this week and are no longer visible in the images.

An LPG gas tanker at anchor as traffic is down in the Strait of Hormuz, amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Shinas, Oman, March 11, 2026.

Iran’s economy could collapse within three months under naval blockade, experts warn

An expert on Iran's military noted that Iranian authorities have previously declared that if they are denied access to their ports, they will prevent other countries in the region from using theirs.

SCREENSHOT FROM a video released by Iranian media showing an encounter between the IRGC Navy and a US warship in the Strait of Hormuz, which they claim withdrew from the area after receiving a warning.

Iraq turns to Syria for oil exports after Hormuz disruptions from US blockade

Iraq is rerouting oil exports through Syria’s Baniyas terminal as its maritime oil shipments face disruptions due to the Iranian and US blockades of the Strait of Hormuz.

Luojiashan tanker sits anchored in Muscat, as Iran vows to close the Strait of Hormuz, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Muscat, Oman, March 7, 2026.

China may survive Trump’s Hormuz blockade, but time is no longer on its side - analysis

Beijing can draw on stockpiles and replace some Iranian crude, but Trump’s naval squeeze is turning endurance into leverage.

 A child walks along a hiking trail with oil storage tanks and facilities of CNOOC Ningbo Daxie Petrochemical Co., Ltd. in the background in Ningbo, Zhejiang, China, March 21, 2026.

Iran less likely to compromise in US talks as its isolation grows, analyst warns

The collapse of US-Iran talks is casting doubt on the ceasefire, suggesting it may be a fragile pause rather than a path to diplomacy.

A billboard with a graphic design about the Strait of Hormuz on a building in Tehran, Iran, April 13, 2026

Chinese tanker sanctioned by US crosses Strait of Hormuz despite blockade

A US-sanctioned Chinese tanker, Rich Starry, crosses the Strait of Hormuz, becoming the first to exit the Gulf since the US blockade began, carrying methanol from the UAE.

An LPG gas tanker at anchor as traffic is down in the Strait of Hormuz, amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Shinas, Oman, March 11, 2026.

What does a US naval blockade of Iran mean for oil flows? - explainer

After weekend peace talks in Islamabad between negotiators from the US and Iran ended without a deal, US President Donald Trump ordered a full blockade on the Strait of Hormuz.

A vessel at the Strait of Hormuz, off the coast of Oman’s Musandam province, April 12, 2026.

Gaza flotilla backed by Greenpeace falters on departure date due to storm

The 39 vessels departing from Moll de la Fusta Port on Sunday would not be sailing directly to Gaza due to weather conditions and would instead travel to another port.

Former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau, who participated in the 2025 Global Sumud Flotilla, speaks to the press as a flotilla prepares to depart for Gaza from Barcelona, Spain, April 12, 2026.

US allows Russian oil tanker to reach Cuba, reversing course on blockade

The US cut off Venezuelan oil exports to Cuba after toppling Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on January 3.

An aerial view shows the oil tanker named Boracay (also called Pushpa), a vessel being investigated by French authorities and suspected of belonging to the so-called "shadow fleet" involved in the Russian oil trade, off the coast of the western France port of Saint-Nazaire, France, October 2, 2025