Iran has designated two shipping lanes for vessels to pass through the Hormuz region.
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The number of ships in the Strait of Hormuz's Omani shipping lanes has sharply decreased, and Iran continues to strengthen its control over the waterways.
According to Mars Finance, on July 5th, reports indicated a significant decrease in the number of ships navigating the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Oman on Sunday. This followed a sharp turnaround the previous day by several vessels attempting to leave the strait along the route, highlighting Iran's continued efforts to strengthen its control over this strategic waterway. An oil tanker that turned back on Saturday appears to be attempting to pass again and has now passed the northernmost tip of Oman's Musandem Peninsula. Earlier, another oil tanker also traveled along the same route and publicly announced its intention to navigate, currently broadcasting its position information in the Gulf of Oman. Other vessels are opting for unauthorized transit. A Suezmax crude oil tanker appeared in the Gulf of Oman on Sunday after its last position broadcast in the Persian Gulf on Saturday. Between Friday and Saturday, at least eight vessels suddenly turned back while transiting the Strait of Hormuz along the Omani route. Four of these subsequently changed course northward, exiting the strait via the Iranian side of the route. There is currently no official explanation for these sudden turns. However, Iran has repeatedly stated that ships can only transit the Strait of Hormuz via designated and authorized routes. According to Kpler data, 19 ships transited the Strait of Hormuz in both directions on Saturday, but only one ship publicly indicated it would enter the strait via the Omani coastal route, compared to 13 ships using that route on Friday. These statistics only cover observable navigation activities.
Sources indicate that Saudi Arabia plans to expand its oil pipeline along the Red Sea, bypassing the Strait of Hormuz and increasing its daily transport capacity by 2 million barrels.
According to five sources familiar with the Odaily, Saudi Arabia is considering expanding the capacity of its crude oil pipeline to the west coast of the Red Sea, enabling Saudi Arabia and its neighbors to transport more oil without passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Built in the early 1980s, this east-west pipeline has become increasingly strategically important since the outbreak of the Iran-Iraq War in February and the disruption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. The pipeline can transport up to 7 million barrels of crude oil per day to the Red Sea port of Yanbu. In May, the CEO of Saudi Aramco stated that approximately 2 million barrels would supply refineries on the west coast, and about 5 million barrels would be exported. Sources say that Saudi Arabia is in preliminary discussions with some neighboring countries regarding pipeline expansion, planning to add approximately 2 million barrels of pipeline capacity per day. It is unclear whether Aramco's planned expansion involves upgrading existing infrastructure or building a new pipeline. One source said the expansion plan also includes a smaller refined oil pipeline. Two sources said the expansion could be between 1 million and 2 million barrels per day, with refined oil products also under consideration. Another source indicated that the project would take several years, cost billions of dollars, and require adjustments to Saudi Arabia's crude oil pricing mechanism. (Jinshi)
Iran launches at least two missiles at ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
According to Mars Finance, on July 7th, AXIOS reported that a US official stated that Iran fired at least two missiles at ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Two merchant ships were hit and severely damaged, but there were no casualties.
Iranian Armed Forces: US Interference in the Strait of Hormuz Will Provoke Retaliation
According to a Odaily by the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting on the 2nd, the Central Headquarters of the Iranian Armed Forces, Hatam Anbia, issued a statement that day saying that the Iranian Armed Forces will respond "resolutely and swiftly" to any interference by the United States in the Strait of Hormuz. The statement said that the Strait of Hormuz is not a place for the United States to act recklessly. The security and stability of this crucial waterway is a "red line" for the Iranian armed forces. The statement indicated that all oil tankers and merchant ships wishing to pass safely through the Strait of Hormuz must follow the routes designated by Iran. Any violation of these routes, any deviation from them, or any disregard for navigation regulations will be met with a response from the Iranian armed forces and will endanger the safety of the offending vessels. (Xinhua)
The US and Iran concluded a new round of indirect negotiations, with the US urging Iran to abandon its plan to impose passage fees in the Strait of Hormuz.
According to Mars Finance, on July 2nd, Iran and the United States concluded a round of indirect talks on Wednesday, with no signs of progress toward a lasting peace. Instead, the focus remained on the issues they claimed to have resolved when they announced a provisional agreement two weeks prior. Reuters reported that sources familiar with the discussions said negotiators from both countries spent two days in Doha discussing maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz and the unfreezing of Iranian funds—two key issues under the preliminary agreement. The Qatari Foreign Ministry stated that the next meeting will be held after the funeral of Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, scheduled for July 9th. In Washington, US President Trump stated that progress was being made on the possibility of limiting Iran's nuclear program. "The denuclearization of Iran is progressing well," he told reporters. "They've had very good meetings, and we're watching." However, sources indicated that the nuclear program issue was not raised in the negotiations, which were essentially technical.
The United States attempted to persuade Iran to abandon its "passage fee" mechanism in the Strait of Hormuz during negotiations.
According to BlockBeats, on July 2, AXIOS reported that the United States attempted to persuade Iran to abandon its "passage fee" mechanism in the Strait of Hormuz during the Doha negotiations.