Strait of Hormuz toll confusion remains

Key Points:

• The first vessels have passed through the Strait of Hormuz since Iran and the U.S. agreed to a two-week ceasefire, but overall maritime traffic remains minimal, with oil tanker movement halted after an Israeli attack on Lebanon.
• Iran insists that ships coordinate passage through the strait with its Armed Forces and faces criticism for plans to impose cryptocurrency tolls and conduct weapons inspections on vessels, causing continued uncertainty in the shipping industry.
• Despite U.S. officials declaring the strait open and President Trump expressing optimism about easing traffic, most shipping companies remain cautious and have not resumed normal transit due to safety concerns and lack of clear guidance.
• Before the conflict, 100-120 commercial vessels passed daily through the strait, but current traffic is still about 90% below normal levels, with many ships stranded in the region since the war began.
• Shipping companies like Maersk welcome the ceasefire but emphasize the need for more detailed information before resuming operations, highlighting ongoing ambiguity about the conditions and security of maritime transit.