Why US-Iran Ceasefire Hasn’t Led to Hormuz Reopening

Maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz — a vital route for exports of oil, natural gas and other commodities from the Persian Gulf — remains severely constrained by Iran, even after a US-Iran ceasefire took effect on April 8.

The 14-day truce, which the US said is conditional on Iran unblocking Hormuz, has yet to translate into a meaningful increase in shipping. Just a handful of vessels were observed making the voyage out of the Persian Gulf on April 8 and the morning of April 9. Under normal conditions, about 135 vessels traverse the strait every day.