Today's updates on the Strait of Hormuz, the Bab-el-Mandab Strait and all Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman ports and anchorages......including caution as the Strait of Hormuz traffic increases a little, hopeful signs that normality is returning in Iraq and its Hajj season where despite the conflict and raging sandstorms all flights are operating normally
There are signs and hopes that the Strait of Homuz might be starting to ease a little with the increased traffic consisting of oil and gas ships. Although total agreement is not yet done and dusted, there is a sense of optimism across the region that there is perhaps a light at the end of the tunnel at last. However, the uptick in activity is still being treated with caution due to the fragility of the situation.
Iran’s expanded control over the area has stretched beyond the narrow Hormuz passage itself. Reuters reported that Tehran now considers parts of the UAE’s Gulf of Oman coastline within its operational oversight, increasing pressure on alternative export routes.
That includes the UAE’s Fujairah oil export corridor, which has become a critical outlet allowing some Emirati crude shipments to bypass Hormuz entirely.
Jaber called the blockade a “dangerous precedent” for global trade and maritime security. “Once you accept that a single country can hold the world’s most important waterway hostage, freedom of navigation as we know it is just finished,” he said.
For now, the movement of a small number of LNG tankers and crude carriers suggests that the Strait of Hormuz is no longer completely paralysed.
(My bolding....I think Jaber's last sentence is absolutely on the money......tbh..and this is imho....losing the Strait of Hormuz and the potential to lose the Bab-el-Mandab Strait via Iranian proxy (Houthi) is possibly far more damaging long term financially and in a global sense than the wish to control or halt Iran's nuclear ambitions and dreams....there are many such choke points around the world that, just like the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab-el-Mandab Strait, are absolutely critical to keeping the world moving and trading and working. Once this is over, it must never be allowed to happen again...anywhere.)
More on this
Is Strait of Hormuz now open? More oil, LNG tankers cross Gulf chokepoint (Gulf News - May 25, 2026)
Iraq is reopening many of its oil refinery facilities and in negotiations to get back the foreign investment that was lost as a result of the hostilities. Aiding this aim is the reopening of the pipelines to Ceyhan in Turkey that will allow shipments to bypass the Strait of Hormuz and get the region shipping oil back to customers again. However, the foreign companies need to be enticed back as the country cannot go it alone.
The spokesperson for the Oil Ministry, Saheb Bazoun, said that the government is in negotiations with foreign oil firms operating in the country to resume activities at closed oil fields. Furthermore, preparations are underway to restart oil shipments through the Turkish port of Ceyhan in the coming days.
The Iraqi government is focusing on oil earnings, activating export outlets, and reaching agreements to maintain the smooth flow of exports.
Bazoun underlined that Iraq’s oil production remains intact despite recent setbacks in the industry.
The majority of foreign corporations operating in Iraq have recently withdrawn, leading to the closure of certain oil fields. However, the government has managed to maintain the oil reservoirs and operational infrastructure while actively working to encourage these companies to resume their activities and complete ongoing development plans.
The Iraqi official explained that the Iraqi government is currently attempting to diversify export channels in light of the challenges posed by recent geopolitical developments.
More on this :
Iraq in negotiations with foreign firm to resume oil production (Iraqi News - May 24, 2026)
Hajj season has begun and Saudi Arabia are reporting that despite bad weather, sandstorms and the hostilities there have not been any problems getting pilgrims into the country. All flights have been running and there are no issues expected to cause problems during the 6 days of Hajj and subsequent departures of the pilgrims.
Over 1.5 million pilgrims have arrived in Saudi Arabia from outside the kingdom for Hajj, according to a Saudi official, exceeding the number of international visitors last year despite the war in the Middle East.
The conflict triggered by the US and Israeli strikes on Iran in late February saw Tehran order waves of strikes on targets in Saudi Arabia and across the Gulf, prompting widespread air traffic disruptions and causing travel costs to surge.
Major Gulf airlines in the UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain have worked to quickly restore much of their operational capacity after weeks of airspace closures and flight cancelations.
Despite the complications, pilgrims have continued to flock to Saudi Arabia to participate in this year’s Hajj.
“The total number of pilgrims arriving from abroad has reached 1,518,153,” Saleh Al-Murabba, the commander of Saudi Arabia’s Hajj Passport Forces, told a press conference late Friday.
More on this :
Hajj pilgrim numbers surpass 2025 arrivals despite Middle East war (Arab News - May 24, 2026)
So onto the waterways.......the Strait of Hormuz is active, albeit quietly, at time of typing, there have been no reported incidents
Likewise with the Bab-el-Mandab Strait, traffic is flowing well and no reported incidents
Onto Persian Gulf from Umm Qasr to Doha....increased activity throughout the area. A cautious sign of hope perhaps
Mina Saqr to Dubai is still congested, Das Island anchorage is empty. The Iranian herders are still making heavy clusters of ships, tightly packed together
On the Gulf of Oman side, again extremely busy in the ports and on the anchorages from Dibba to Sohar with the usual Iranian herders close by
No updates available regarding the remaining crew who were seriously injured aboard CMA CGM San Antonio during Project Freedom.
Thats it for now...back tomorrow