Shippers Remain Cautious About Hormuz Transit Even After US-Iran Deal Announcement

Shipping companies, operators and charterers remain hesitant to transit the Strait of Hormuz, which the U.S and Iran have announced will fully reopen, following the signing of an agreement between the two countries.

However, confidence-building would take time, given the threat of naval mines placed by Iran in the waterway.

An international mission is already underway to secure the Hormuz to remove this threat.

Iran and the U.S. are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding to end the war, end the US blockade of Iran, and reopen the Strait on Friday.

After this announcement, global oil prices fell by 4% on Monday, and shippers welcomed the news but still await more details.

“The market is clearly pricing in a return to business as usual, but after months of disruption, (ship) owners and charterers alike will likely remain cautious until ships are consistently moving freely through Hormuz once again,” analysts at Sentosa Ship Brokers said.

Meanwhile, the LNG tanker Disha, belonging to India’s Petronet, crossed the strait on Monday, the only visible shipment so far, according to data from Kpler and LSEG.

The tanker carried cargo loaded at Qatar’s Ras Laffan in March. It had remained west of the strait since then, waiting for approval to cross the waterway to reach India’s Dahej Terminal.

Around 155 oil and chemical tankers remained in the region as of June 15, 2026, down from 201 tankers at the end of May.

However, experts state that the traffic buildup on either side of the waterway can be resolved in 10-12 days.

“Furthermore, ship owners have positioned nearly 60 more VLCCs (Very Large Crude Carriers) than usual within a few days of sailing to the ports West of Hormuz, in anticipation.”

A spokesperson for the Japanese Shipowners’ Association said that they would wait a bit more for more concrete information, when the US-Iran deal is signed on June 19, 2026.

A Mitsui Lines spokesperson said: “While we are aware of signs of progress towards a ceasefire, our policy remains unchanged; we will only resume navigation once safety has been fully confirmed.”