In a significant development regarding maritime operations in the Strait of Hormuz, at least two Chinese cargo ships that faced obstruction from Iran last week successfully navigated the strategic waterway on Monday, as revealed by tracking data from MarineTraffic. The Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is believed to have made an example of these vessels after recent comments from President Trump indicated that Tehran had granted passage to eight vessels.
Last Friday, tracking data indicated that the two ultra-large container ships, belonging to COSCO, China’s largest shipping company, had unexpectedly reversed course while attempting to pass near Iran’s Larak Island. Analysts suggest that this area has effectively become a tollbooth, where Iran levies substantial fees on ships it permits to transit the strait.
The IRGC previously stated that the passage of any vessel to or from ports associated with nations perceived as adversaries to Iran would be strictly prohibited, highlighting its stance against “Zionist-American enemies.” Despite these restrictions, both COSCO ships successfully traversed the strait on Monday, closely approaching Larak Island.
Additionally, another bulk carrier, identified as the Mac Hope and flagged as high-risk by the U.S. for transporting sanctioned goods, also made the crossing on the same day, reinforcing concerns over maritime security in the region.
During a Cabinet meeting, President Trump suggested that Iran might allow ten oil tankers to pass through the strait as a “present” for him, though he did not specify the origins or destinations of these vessels. On the diplomatic front, Pakistan’s foreign minister reported that Tehran had agreed to permit 20 Pakistani-flagged ships to transit the strait—two each day—describing it as a “harbinger of peace.”
Conversely, Iranian state media later reported that Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, in a conversation with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, reaffirmed Iran’s stance that the strait would remain closed to vessels linked to the United States and Israel. Throughout the ongoing conflict, Iran has maintained that the strait remains accessible but only for vessels it has cleared, with some ships reportedly facing fees as high as $2 million for passage.
