Over 20 vessels pass through Strait of Hormuz in past day — media

Lead

More than 20 commercial vessels, including tankers, dry cargo ships, and container carriers, passed through the Strait of Hormuz in the past day, according to unnamed US administration officials cited by The Wall Street Journal. The report, carried by TASS, said some ships switched off their automatic identification systems while transiting the strait.

The increase in traffic follows three consecutive days of rising ship numbers through the waterway, as reported by maritime data firm Windward and covered by Deutsche Welle. Windward said 16 cargo ships transited the largely blocked strait on Wednesday, up from 11 on Tuesday and fewer still on Monday, though traffic remains a fraction of pre-war levels.

Coverage comparison

Reporting on the situation at the Strait of Hormuz diverges significantly between outlets. Deutsche Welle focused on the overall increase in ship traffic and noted that most vessels sailed close to the Iranian coast, allowing Iran to maintain what it described as a "permission-based, selective blockade." The outlet also reported that a French container ship had passed through the strait and left the Persian Gulf, and that US President Donald Trump had threatened to take control of the waterway by force.

TASS, citing Axios correspondent Barak Ravid, reported that several US Navy ships crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday without Iran's approval, marking the first such occurrence since the start of the conflict. However, a senior Iranian army official, speaking to Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), denied reports of an American destroyer passing through the strait, saying the vessel had been warned it would become a target within 30 minutes if it continued toward the waterway.

Key claims

• US Navy passage: According to Axios correspondent Barak Ravid, citing US official sources, several US Navy ships crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday without coordination with Iran. This claim was carried by TASS but has not been independently verified.
• Iranian denial: A senior Iranian army official denied the passage of an American destroyer, stating that after a "firm and unequivocal warning," the vessel was prohibited from approaching the strait. This account comes from IRIB, as reported by TASS.
• Commercial traffic: The Wall Street Journal, citing unnamed US administration officials, reported that more than 20 commercial vessels passed through the strait in a day. Windward data, cited by Deutsche Welle, showed a three-day increase in cargo ship transits.
• War and blockade: Multiple TASS reports state that the United States and Israel launched a war against Iran on February 28, and that Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz to ships associated with the US, Israel, and countries supporting their aggression. These claims are consistent across TASS articles but have not been corroborated by other outlets in the provided material.
• Diplomatic efforts: TASS reported that Iran and the United States held talks in Islamabad on April 11, with delegations led by Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and US Vice President JD Vance. No agreement on a long-term settlement was reached, according to both sides.
• US blockade: TASS reported that the United States established a naval blockade of Iran on April 13, a claim not mentioned in other sources.

Perspectives

US/Israeli perspective: As reported by Axios and cited by TASS, US Navy ships crossed the Strait of Hormuz without Iran's approval, signaling a deliberate assertion of freedom of navigation. President Trump has threatened to take control of the strait by force, according to Deutsche Welle, and has suggested the US could "OPEN THE HORMUZ STRAIT, TAKE THE OIL, & MAKE A FORTUNE" in a social media post.

Iranian perspective: Iranian officials deny that US Navy ships passed through the strait, and claim that any American vessel approaching was warned and turned away. Iran has closed the strait to ships associated with the US, Israel, and their supporters, while allowing passage for friendly countries such as Russia, India, Iraq, China, and Pakistan, as stated by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

International/maritime perspective: Maritime data firm Windward observes that despite increased traffic, the strait remains largely blocked, with most ships sailing close to the Iranian coast under Iran's selective control. The passage of the LNG tanker Sohar is noted as the first such transit since the war began, indicating a partial resumption of energy shipments.

This article is based on reporting from Deutsche Welle and TASS, with claims attributed to The Wall Street Journal, Axios, IRIB, and Windward. Some information remains unverified or is reported by a single outlet.