Iran Briefly Reopens and Closes Strait of Hormuz, Causing Vessel Turnbacks

A report from the UK-based maritime analytics company Windward reveals that Iran briefly reopened the Strait of Hormuz before closing it again, leading to 35 vessels turning back within the past 36 hours. According to Odaily, Iran announced the reopening of the strait on the 17th, prompting cautious reactions from ships. On the 18th, initial sparse traffic through the strait quickly increased as vessels rushed to pass before conditions worsened. A total of 35 ships navigated the strait that day, with 8 entering, including 4 oil tankers, 2 bulk carriers, and 2 other cargo ships. Meanwhile, 27 vessels exited, comprising 8 oil tankers, 3 bulk carriers, 15 other cargo ships, and 1 passenger ship.