Three reasons ships are not sailing through the Strait of Hormuz yet

Despite President Trump’s Sunday proclamation that the Strait of Hormuz would open, ship-tracking analysis shows limited movement through the chokepoint. BBC Verify, relying on MarineTraffic data through Tuesday, reports only seven vessels have passed since the deal’s announcement, while as many as 580 ships await in the Gulf. The strait, which accounts for roughly 20 percent of global oil and gas traffic, remains effectively closed after Iran began blocking navigation following February 28 strikes. Satellite imagery shows more than 250 tankers and 330 cargo ships inside the Gulf, with about 75 percent of tankers stationary near terminals in Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and the UAE. Experts note significant obstacles—security concerns, mines, and tolls—preventing traffic from normalizing. The U.S. naval blockade remains in place, having disabled nine non-compliant vessels and launched Hellfire missiles into some engine rooms, per U.S. Central Command. Satellite images from June 15 show four U.S. warships near the Gulf of Oman entrance, while many captains remain cautious, awaiting clear signals before crossing. Some Greek operators may force crossings to build confidence, but overall sentiment is wait-and-see.