Washington and Tehran accused each other of not respecting the ceasefire agreement.
Published on 10 April 2026
Shipping in the Strait of Hormuz is at a standstill despite a ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran, dashing hopes of a resolution to one of the worst global energy disruptions in history.
Only a small number of ships have transited the vital strait since Washington and Tehran announced a two-week pause in fighting on Tuesday, according to ship tracking data.
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Five ships transited the strait on Wednesday, down from 11 the previous day and seven ships transited on Thursday, according to data from market intelligence firm Kpler.
According to Lloyd’s List intelligence, more than 600 ships, including 325 tankers, are still stuck in the gulf due to the blockage of the strait.
“Although some vessel movements have resumed, traffic remains very limited, with compliant shipowners likely to remain cautious, and if the cease-fire remains in place, safe transit capacity is expected to be limited to a maximum of 10-15 routes a day without considering tolls,” Kpler trade risk analyst Ana Subacic said in an analysis Thursday.
The waterway, which typically carries about a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies, normally handled about 120-140 transits a day before the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran on February 28.
On Thursday, US President Donald Trump accused Iran of failing to fulfill its part of the ceasefire agreement, which includes a commitment to allow “safe passage” through the waterway for two weeks.
“Iran is doing a very bad job, allowing oil to go through the Strait of Hormuz is outrageous, some would even say outrageous,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
“This is not the agreement we have between us!”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi earlier accused the US of not respecting the agreement and warned that it would have to choose between a ceasefire or “continued war” through its ally, in the context of Israel’s ongoing attacks on Lebanon.
“The world watches the massacre in Lebanon,” Araghchi said in a post on social media.
“The ball is in the US court and the world is watching to see whether it will follow through on its commitments.”
Oil prices have started to fall following the ceasefire announcement as the market digests the reality that maritime traffic has effectively come to a halt despite the ceasefire.
“This moment requires clarity. So let’s be clear: the Strait of Hormuz is not open,” Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, CEO of ADNOC, the UAE’s state oil company, said in a social media post on Thursday.
“Access is being restricted, conditioned and controlled. Iran has made clear – through both its statements and actions – that passage is subject to permission, conditions and political gain. This is not freedom of navigation. This is coercion.”
Brent crude, the international benchmark, was at $96.39 by 02:00 GMT on Friday, after falling below $95 a barrel on Wednesday.
Asia’s major stock markets opened higher on Friday after overnight gains on Wall Street on hopes of a resolution to the war.
Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 was up 1.8 percent in early trading, while South Korea’s KOSPI and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index were up 2 percent and 1 percent, respectively.
