By Elsie Kamsiyochi
An Iraqi-flagged tanker carrying a major crude shipment successfully traveled through the highly sensitive Strait of Hormuz on Friday, according to shipping data, marking one of the clearest signs yet that Iran is easing restrictions on vessels deemed neutral in the growing regional conflict.
The Ocean Thunder, loaded with roughly 1 million barrels of Basrah Heavy crude, was tracked passing close to the Iranian coastline a day after Tehran publicly affirmed that Iraq would be exempt from any transit limitations in the vital waterway. The exemption, reported Thursday, followed weeks of uncertainty after Iran’s temporary closure of the strait earlier this year.
Data from LSEG and Kpler confirmed the vessel’s movement and indicated that the tanker is en route to Pengerang, Malaysia, where it is expected to offload its cargo in mid-April. The shipment represents a key flow of crude from Iraq—OPEC’s second-largest producer—whose exports rely heavily on secure maritime access.
The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow chokepoint between Iran and Oman, is one of the most important arteries of the global energy system. Roughly 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas shipments pass through it each year. Any disruption has immediate implications for global markets, shipping insurance costs, and geopolitical stability.
Iran’s decision to restrict passage came after U.S. and Israeli airstrikes hit Iranian targets in late February, prompting Tehran to respond with a partial closure of the strait. The move intensified fears that the conflict could choke off a critical portion of global energy supplies.
However, Iran later clarified that ships with no U.S. or Israeli links would be permitted to pass. In recent days, maritime analysts have observed an increasing number of permitted transits, including three Omani-operated tankers, a French-owned container vessel, and a Japanese-owned gas carrier, signaling a gradual reopening of the corridor to select international traffic.
The transit of the Ocean Thunder suggests that Iran is attempting to balance retaliatory posture with economic and diplomatic considerations, particularly in relation to Iraq, a close political and economic partner.
As tensions remain high throughout the region, analysts say each successful passage offers both relief for energy markets and insight into how Tehran is calibrating its strategy.
Source Reuters