Todays updates on the Strait of Hormuz, Bab-el-Mandab Strait and all ports / anchorages in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman........plus Kuwait attacked again, Iranian demands for $12 billion and airlines cutting more and more flights in the region due to ceasefire jitters
The airlines are showing their discomfort over flights to the Middle East region, there are significant jitters due to the unpredictability of the US and Iranian administrations who have chopped and changed minds many times during the ceasefire. There are real concerns that airspace could close at a moments notice due to hostilities and longhaul flights being diverted away from the usual Middle East routes.
Table from Iraqi News....
Global commercial aviation corridors are undergoing a massive structural realign as international airlines rapidly cancel, suspend, or scale back operations across the Middle East. Driven by escalating regional tensions and the looming threat of a direct military confrontation between Iran and a U.S.-Israeli coalition, global carriers are rerouting transit networks entirely away from traditional regional hubs.
According to live aviation tracking data and updates published by Reuters on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, mainline intercontinental flights between Europe and Asia are increasingly bypassing Middle Eastern airspace. To capture the displaced passenger traffic and adapt to the volatile geopolitical environment, major Gulf-based airlines and international long-haul carriers are aggressively adjusting their operational capacities.
Fears of sudden airspace closures and missile threats to civilian aviation have prompted commercial carriers from Europe, Asia, and North America to extend flight bans across a broad list of cities, including Baghdad, Erbil, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Riyadh, Tel Aviv, and Beirut.
More on this :
Airlines suspend Middle East flights amid growing US-Iran conflict risk (Iraqi News - May 27, 2026)
Kuwait has come under attack again by hostile drones. So far all have been intercepted and the Kuwati government has stated that they will defend themselves and possibly retaliate if needed.
Iran are demanding $12 billion upfront before they will extend the ceasefire....this is part of $24 billion of frozen funds owed to them by the US under the now torn up Obama deal. There will be no extended ceasefire without the upfront payment.
In order to open the Strait of Hormuz and obtain some degree of restriction on Iran's nuclear program, the Trump administration may have to give Tehran access to billions of dollars in frozen assets, according to The Telegraph. The Iranian demand is politically perilous for the White House since it would have the appearance of a payment to Iran, and it would conflict with administration's messaging of "total and complete victory."
According to the Telegraph's sources, Iranian negotiators are demanding the release of a total of $24 billion in frozen overseas assets in exchange for a 60-day ceasefire extension (not a final settlement). Half of that money, $12 billion, would have to be released up front in order to get the memorandum signed and begin the process of further negotiations.
"Our demand is the release of the frozen assets – not in the future, but right now," an Iranian official confirmed to the Telegraph.
"No negotiations are possible without depositing Iran’s blocked funds."
More on this :
Iran Demands $12B Up Front for 60-Day Ceasefire Extension (Maritime Executive - May 28, 2026)
Onto the Strait of Hormuz and Bab-el-Mandab Strait
At time of writing there have been no reported incidents in the region of the two Straits. Traffic is virtually non existant out of the Strait of Hormuz but flowing well through the Bab-el-Mandab Strait
The Persian Gulf from Umm Qasr to Doha...little change, very very congested in all ports and anchorages with many ships treading water on their anchor chains but not moving any distances. The usual herders are still milling about tween the ships
Tween Mina Saqr and Abu Dhabi there seems to be a little more visible shipping although the main anchorages of Mina Saqr, Ras al Khaimah and Das Island remain very light.
Over on the Gulf of Oman side from Dibba to Muscat, it looks less congested but the caveat is that many ships in the area will have gone dark on AIS. The port and anchorage of Fujairah are both very very quiet this morning. Several ships appear to be moving tween main anchorages rather than sitting still, possibly to avoid further attack such as the VLCC a couple days ago
Still no news of the injured crew aboard CMA CGM San Antonio and the ship herself has yet to come back on AIS which does not bode well for her.
Thats it for today....back tomorrow