{"id":1607,"date":"2026-06-30T15:10:53","date_gmt":"2026-06-30T15:10:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/arabnewsmonitor.com\/2026\/06\/30\/how-ships-are-risking-safe-passage-through-the-strait-of-hormuz\/"},"modified":"2026-06-30T15:10:53","modified_gmt":"2026-06-30T15:10:53","slug":"how-ships-are-risking-safe-passage-through-the-strait-of-hormuz","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/?p=1607","title":{"rendered":"How ships are risking \u2018safe\u2019 passage through the Strait of Hormuz"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-tms-ad-status=\"idle\" data-tms-ad-container class=\"o-ad-container o-ad-container--banner-top o-ad-container--with-shimmer o-ad-container--with-background\">\n<div class=\"o-ad-container__content o-ad-container__content--report-enabled\">\n<div class=\"o-ad-container__label m-block-ad__label--report-enabled\">\n                    <span class=\"o-ad-container__label__text\">Advertising<\/span><br \/>\n                                            <button title=\"Report this ad\" class=\"o-ad-container__content__report-link\" data-tms-ad-report><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/button>\n                                    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"o-ad-sponsoring\" data-tms-ad-type=\"sponsoring\" data-tms-ad-status=\"disabled\">\n<div class=\"o-ad-sponsoring__wrapper\">\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"t-content t-content--article\" id=\"main-content\">\n<div class=\"t-content__above-sidebar\">\n<h1 class=\"t-content__title a-page-title\">How ships are risking \u2018safe\u2019 passage through the Strait of Hormuz<\/h1>\n<div class=\"m-master-tag\">\n<div class=\"a-tag-cartouche\">Explainer<\/div>\n<div class=\"a-tag-section\">\n                                    Middle East\n                            <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"t-content__chapo\">\n                                        A plan to divert shipping through an alternative corridor off the Omani coast to avoid the threat of mines in the Strait of Hormuz has come under scrutiny after two attacks on ships in recent days. Though Iran and Oman agreed to engage in talks on Monday on the strait&#8217;s management, the incidents illustrate the complexity of maintaining navigation through the crucial waterway, which remains at the forefront of the standoff between Tehran and Washington.                <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"t-content__with-sidebar\">\n<div class=\"t-content__beside-sidebar\" data-article-content>\n<div class=\"t-content__metadata\">\n<div class=\"t-content__dates\">\n<p class=\"m-pub-dates\"><span class=\"m-pub-dates__date\">Issued on: <time datetime=\"2026-06-30T05:48:20+00:00\">30\/06\/2026 &#8211; 07:48<\/time><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"a-reading-time\">\n    <span class=\"a-reading-time__icon\" title=\"Reading time\"><\/p>\n<p>    <\/span><br \/>\n    5 min    <span class=\"u-sr-only\">Reading time<\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"a-share-button\" data-root-share>\n<p>                            <span class=\"a-master-button__label\">Share<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"t-content__authors\">\n<div class=\"m-from-author\">\n                    <span class=\"m-from-author__by-label\"><br \/>\n                By:<br \/>\n            <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"m-author\">\n<div class=\"m-author__name\">\n                                                    <a href=\"\/en\/author\/bahar-makooi\/\" title=\"Bahar MAKOOI\" class=\"m-author__name__title\"><br \/>\n                                Bahar MAKOOI<br \/>\n                            <\/a>\n                    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"t-content__main-media\">\n<figure class=\"m-item-image m-item-image--16x9 m-item-image--has-caption\">\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"auto\" src=\"https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/3c43085a-7178-11f1-a50b-005056a97e36\/w:1024\/p:16x9\/2026-06-22T112305Z-1961044055-RC2UYLAMJ2ZL-RTRMADP-3-IRAN-CRISIS-OMAN-HORMUZ.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/3c43085a-7178-11f1-a50b-005056a97e36\/w:388\/p:16x9\/2026-06-22T112305Z-1961044055-RC2UYLAMJ2ZL-RTRMADP-3-IRAN-CRISIS-OMAN-HORMUZ.jpg 388w,https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/3c43085a-7178-11f1-a50b-005056a97e36\/w:720\/p:16x9\/2026-06-22T112305Z-1961044055-RC2UYLAMJ2ZL-RTRMADP-3-IRAN-CRISIS-OMAN-HORMUZ.jpg 720w,https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/3c43085a-7178-11f1-a50b-005056a97e36\/w:1024\/p:16x9\/2026-06-22T112305Z-1961044055-RC2UYLAMJ2ZL-RTRMADP-3-IRAN-CRISIS-OMAN-HORMUZ.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1076px) 100vw, 1012px\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" alt=\"Vessels at the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, June 22, 2026\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"a-img \"><figcaption class=\"a-figcaption\">\n                Vessels at the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, June 22, 2026.        \u00a9 Reuters    <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"t-content__body u-clearfix\">\n<p>Iran\u2019s Revolutionary Guards, the ideological armed wing of the Islamic Republic of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/iran\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">Iran<\/a>, issued a stern warning last week that only certain maritime routes would be authorised for navigation. It added that any ships transiting the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/strait-of-hormuz\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">Strait of Hormuz<\/a> outside of the framework defined by Iran \u201cwill not be guaranteed safe passage\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>In recent days, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/a-cargo-ship-in-the-strait-of-hormuz-targeted-by-iran\" target=\"_self\">Iran has acted on its threat<\/a>. It twice attacked ships in the strait following efforts to open <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/oman\/\" target=\"_self\">Oman<\/a>\u2019s territorial waters to both inbound and outbound traffic from the Persian Gulf.<\/p>\n<p>In the first attack on June 25, a cargo ship sustained damage by a missile of unknown origin while sailing 7.5 nautical miles (14 kilometres) south-east of Dahit, on Oman\u2019s Musandam Peninsula. The vessel had taken an alternative maritime route to the one typically used in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/strait-of-hormuz\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">Strait of Hormuz<\/a>, instead transiting Omani territorial waters.<\/p>\n<p>The aim was to avoid the corridor under the control of the Iranian maritime authority.<\/p>\n<p>The ship\u2019s route was recommended on June 18 by the Joint Maritime Information Centre (JMIC), a naval information centre supported by the US government.<\/p>\n<p>According to JMIC, this route is \u201cmine-free\u201d, unlike the route usually taken in the centre of the strait.<\/p>\n<p class=\"a-read-more\"><span class=\"a-read-more__label\">Read more<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/middle-east\/20260629-middle-east-live-lebanon-rejects-us%E2%80%93israel-framework-hezbollah-asserts-right-to-self-defence\" target=\"_self\" class=\"a-read-more__link\">Middle East live: Only Iran will carry out Hormuz Strait demining, Tehran says in rebuttal to Macron<\/a><\/p>\n<p>The attacks on the ships drew <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/iran-targets-gulf-states-in-response-to-us-strikes-testing-fragile-ceasefire\" target=\"_self\">retaliatory US airstrikes<\/a> followed by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/middle-east\/20260628-iran-threatens-to-halt-talks-after-fresh-us-strikes-attacks-bahrain-and-kuwait\" target=\"_self\">Iranian drone and missile attacks<\/a> targeting <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/bahrain\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">Bahrain<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/kuwait\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">Kuwait<\/a> on Sunday, placing negotiations to reach a formal end to the war back on hold.<\/p>\n<p>Although <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/washington-d-c\/\" target=\"_self\">Washington<\/a> and Tehran have since agreed to stop their attacks, traffic through the strait remains disrupted. Only one ship transited the Omani route to exit the Gulf, and another to enter on Monday, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kpler.com\/solution\/ship-tracking?_gl=1*1g8jn8w*_up*MQ..*_gs*MQ..&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQjwr4jSBhCSARIsAOX1E-IOG-CFbVTkRjLnqLbHL2BvhjbGup-N0R9L7WGH63b3Qtp_8hSsRrcaAqj1EALw_wcB&amp;gbraid=0AAAAAC-Xw1gH93j_TYQRhPuIvWsnZaC8o&amp;utm_source__c=google&amp;utm_medium__c=cpc&amp;utm_campaign__c=search-brand&amp;gclid__c=Cj0KCQjwr4jSBhCSARIsAOX1E-IOG-CFbVTkRjLnqLbHL2BvhjbGup-N0R9L7WGH63b3Qtp_8hSsRrcaAqj1EALw_wcB&amp;gclid_c=Cj0KCQjwr4jSBhCSARIsAOX1E-IOG-CFbVTkRjLnqLbHL2BvhjbGup-N0R9L7WGH63b3Qtp_8hSsRrcaAqj1EALw_wcB\" target=\"_blank\">Kpler<\/a> data showed.<\/p>\n<h2>A hazardous waterway<\/h2>\n<p>The Strait of Hormuz, though long considered an international waterway, is technically located in Iran and Oman\u2019s territorial waters. However, ships have long used the maritime corridor off Iran for safety reasons.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis stretch of water [off Oman] already existed, but it was rarely used because it runs along the coastline and poses greater safety risks,\u201d said Dirk Siebels, a maritime safety specialist at Risk Intelligence. \u201cIf something goes wrong on board \u2013 an engine failure, a steering failure or any other incident \u2013 you are relatively close to the shore and have very little room to manoeuvre.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"m-em-image\">\n<figure class=\"m-item-image m-item-image--original m-item-image--has-caption\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/dc6aa8bc-73e7-11f1-8d50-005056bfb2b6\/w:980\/Iran-Ormuz-Routes-EN.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/dc6aa8bc-73e7-11f1-8d50-005056bfb2b6\/w:246\/Iran-Ormuz-Routes-EN.jpg 246w,https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/dc6aa8bc-73e7-11f1-8d50-005056bfb2b6\/w:388\/Iran-Ormuz-Routes-EN.jpg 388w,https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/dc6aa8bc-73e7-11f1-8d50-005056bfb2b6\/w:720\/Iran-Ormuz-Routes-EN.jpg 720w,https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/dc6aa8bc-73e7-11f1-8d50-005056bfb2b6\/w:980\/Iran-Ormuz-Routes-EN.jpg 980w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1023px) calc(100vw - 32px), (min-width: 1024px) 850px\" alt=\"Strait of Hormuz: New &quot;safe' maritime route according to Iranian authorities\" style=\"max-height:1063px\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"a-img \"><figcaption class=\"a-figcaption\">\n                        \u00a9 Valentina Breschi, Sylvie Husson\/ AFP    <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Under ordinary circumstances, ships that transit the Strait of Hormuz abide by a system of navigation first established in 1968 by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).<\/p>\n<p>This \u201ctraffic separation scheme\u201d functions \u201clike a sort of maritime motorway in the middle of the strait\u201d, Siebels said.<\/p>\n<p>Two traffic lanes, separated by a buffer zone, allow ships to enter and leave the Gulf while minimising the risk of collision in what is essentially a bottleneck \u2013 the strait is barely 33 kilometres wide at its narrowest point.<\/p>\n<p>However, this central corridor is now off-limits due to restrictions imposed by the Iranian authorities, who only allow passage along their own coastline with the approval of their maritime authorities.<\/p>\n<p>Aside from the risk to vessels that dare to defy Iran\u2019s constraints, there is the additional threat posed by the possible presence of sea mines.<\/p>\n<p>On June 24, the secretary-general of the IMO, Arsenio Dominguez, sounded the alarm, saying that \u201cwe have received information that there are mines\u201d in the usual <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/shipping\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">shipping<\/a> lane.<\/p>\n<p>He warned that more than 80 mines would need to be cleared before any resumption of traffic.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo one is in a position to say whether this is true or false,\u201d Siebels said. \u201cBut it isn\u2019t even actually necessary for mines to be present: all it takes is to sow doubt so that no one takes the risk of passing through. In any case, clearance of the mines must be carried out first.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Whatever the speculation over mines, the international community was stepping up to address concerns. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/france\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">France<\/a> on Monday announced it would work with Oman to clear mines from the Strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We have decided \u200cto collaborate, in conjunction with our partners, on \u200cclearing mines from the Strait in order to secure maritime routes and guarantee free and unconditional passage through the Strait of Hormuz,&#8221; French President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/emmanuel-macron\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">Emmanuel Macron<\/a> wrote on X after meeting with Oman&#8217;s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al at \u2060the \u00c9lys\u00e9e\u00a0Palace.<\/p>\n<div id=\"em-WBMZ562976-F24-EN-20260629\" class=\"m-em-flash\" data-xtwitter-script>\n<div class=\"o-em-consent \">\n<div class=\"o-em-consent__content\">\n<p class=\"o-em-consent__content__text\">To display this content from X (Twitter), you must enable advertisement tracking and audience measurement.<\/p>\n<p>        <button class=\"a-master-button a-master-button--dark\" data-action=\"accept\"><br \/>\n            Accept<\/p>\n<p>        <\/button><br \/>\n        <button class=\"a-link\" data-action=\"manage\">Manage my choices                <\/p>\n<p><\/button>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>An Iranian official hit back after Macron posted his statement on X, warning France and others against \u201cprovocations\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Iranian deputy foreign minister Kazem Gharibabadi said on X that under the interim deal, \u201cdemining is carried out solely by Iran and by no other country\u201d.<\/p>\n<h2>An increasingly busy route<\/h2>\n<p>According to Siebels, up until recently the route along the Omani coast had become increasingly busy. Around twenty ships had used it in May and early June, a figure that subsequently rose to about 60, according to the IMO.<\/p>\n<p class=\"a-read-more\"><span class=\"a-read-more__label\">Read more<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/middle-east\/20260616-how-france-uk-mission-plans-to-secure-hormuz-strait-as-ceasefire-takes-hold\" target=\"_self\" class=\"a-read-more__link\">How can a joint France-UK mission help restart shipping in the Strait of Hormuz?<\/a><\/p>\n<p>The alternative route was also intended to offer the nearly 11,000 vessels still trapped in the Gulf a way out. However, the UN-devised plan to enable their departure\u00a0\u2013 using the two coastal routes \u2013 was suspended following Thursday&#8217;s attack on the cargo ship off the coast of Oman.<\/p>\n<p>Under the memorandum of understanding signed last week between Tehran and Washington, Iran committed to clearing mines from the strait within 30 days. In recent weeks, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/france\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">France<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/united-kingdom\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">UK<\/a> had committed to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/middle-east\/20260616-how-france-uk-mission-plans-to-secure-hormuz-strait-as-ceasefire-takes-hold\" target=\"_self\">jointly lead a coalition of around 40 countries<\/a> in providing mine-clearing expertise to help secure the vital waterway.<\/p>\n<p>Iran said on Monday it had held its first meeting with Oman to discuss the management of the strait.<\/p>\n<p>The issue of who controls this strategic strait is far from resolved. It remains a major point of contention between Tehran and Washington, and a key source of leverage in the protracted on again-off again negotiations between the two warring countries.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>This article has been translated from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/fr\/moyen-orient\/20260626-le-pari-d-une-route-alternative-dans-le-d%C3%A9troit-d-ormuz-iran-oman-etats-unis-trump-accord-navigation\" target=\"_self\">original<\/a> in French by Nicole Trian.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"o-sidebar\">\n<div class=\"o-sidebar__aside\">\n<div data-tms-ad-status=\"idle\" data-tms-ad-container class=\"o-ad-container o-ad-container--box o-ad-container--with-shimmer\">\n<div class=\"o-ad-container__content o-ad-container__content--report-enabled\">\n<div class=\"o-ad-container__label m-block-ad__label--report-enabled\">\n                    <span class=\"o-ad-container__label__text\">Advertising<\/span><br \/>\n                                            <button title=\"Report this ad\" class=\"o-ad-container__content__report-link\" data-tms-ad-report><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/button>\n                                    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"t-content__tags t-content__below-sidebar\">\n<div class=\"m-section-title m-section-title--small\">Keywords for this article<\/div>\n<ul class=\"m-tags-list\">\n<li class=\"m-tags-list__tag\">\n                <a href=\"\/en\/tag\/strait-of-hormuz\/\" class=\"a-hot-tag\" title=\"Strait of Hormuz\">    Strait of Hormuz<\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<li class=\"m-tags-list__tag\">\n                <a href=\"\/en\/tag\/iran\/\" class=\"a-hot-tag\" title=\"Iran\">    Iran<\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<li class=\"m-tags-list__tag\">\n                <a href=\"\/en\/tag\/usa\/\" class=\"a-hot-tag\" title=\"USA\">    USA<\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<li class=\"m-tags-list__tag\">\n                <a href=\"\/en\/tag\/shipping\/\" class=\"a-hot-tag\" title=\"shipping\">    shipping<\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<li class=\"m-tags-list__tag\">\n                <a href=\"\/en\/tag\/iran-conflict\/\" class=\"a-hot-tag\" title=\"Iran war\">    Iran war<\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<li class=\"m-tags-list__tag\">\n                <a href=\"\/en\/tag\/oman\/\" class=\"a-hot-tag\" title=\"Oman\">    Oman<\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<li class=\"m-tags-list__tag\">\n                <a href=\"\/en\/tag\/features\/\" class=\"a-hot-tag\" title=\"Features\">    Features<\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Advertising How ships are risking \u2018safe\u2019 passage through the Strait of Hormuz Explainer Middle East&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":1608,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1607","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-middle-east"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1607","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1607"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1607\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1608"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1607"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1607"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1607"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}