Korean Media: Hormuz Strait Said to Be Open… Only 50 Oil Tankers Allowed Per Day

¬ Over 2,000 Vessels Trapped, When Will South Korean Ships Depart… Iran Requires Coordination with Military, Navigation Channels Have Narrowed, Trump Suggests Toll Fees "Create Massive Revenue"

An agreement has been reached between the U.S. and Iran for a two-week ceasefire, under which Iran conditionally opens the Strait of Hormuz, creating conditions for the 26 South Korean vessels trapped in the Persian Gulf to escape. However, Iran has added the condition that passage through the strait must be coordinated with its military authorities. With approximately 2,000 vessels from various countries still stranded in the Persian Gulf, it is expected to take considerable time before all South Korean ships can fully clear the area.

On the 8th, the Blue House stated that “the ceasefire agreement has created conditions for the resumption of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz,” adding that “we will accelerate negotiations with shipping companies and communication with relevant countries to enable South Korean vessels to pass through as soon as possible.” Regarding specific methods and conditions for passage, the Blue House said: “We are currently communicating with relevant countries and closely monitoring the situation,” and “for overall matters such as the list of vessels requiring passage, we will work closely with shipping companies to quickly verify details.”

Although Iran claims to have opened the Strait of Hormuz, it insists that “safe passage requires coordination with Iranian military authorities.” Furthermore, it explicitly stated that “technical restrictions set by Iran” must be observed during transit. In effect, Iran agrees to open the strait but retains control over it.

The so-called “technical restrictions” Iran refers to may not be problematic if they only involve reporting vessel information and obtaining approval. However, diplomatic observers speculate: “Iran might use these restrictions as a basis for selectively blocking certain countries, imposing toll fees, or conducting inspections on passing vessels.” Iran has long been advancing plans to collect tolls from ships passing through the strait as funding for post-war reconstruction, while also negotiating jointly managed passage rules with Oman across the strait.

U.S. President Donald Trump also posted on Truth Social: “The United States will assist in resolving congestion at the Strait of Hormuz,” and “this will create massive revenue.” This statement is widely interpreted as an implicit acceptance of Iran’s proposal to charge tolls.

Even with the strait officially open, the “bottleneck effect” remains a major uncertainty. According to international organizations such as the International Maritime Organization (IMO), more than 2,000 vessels are stranded both inside and outside the Strait of Hormuz and in the Persian Gulf. Among them, 26 vessels are related to South Korea, involving 173 crew members in total. These include nine crude oil tankers, eight petroleum product carriers, five bulk cargo ships, two LNG/LPG carriers, one container ship, and one car carrier.

Before the conflict, average daily traffic through the Strait of Hormuz was around 138 vessels. Particularly, the daily passage of large oil tankers was limited to just 50 vessels, largely due to geographical constraints. The channels for entering and exiting the strait are narrow—only about 3 kilometers wide. Ultra-large crude carriers (VLCCs) must avoid shallow areas and maintain safe distances between vessels. As a result, industry experts argue: “It is physically impossible for a large-scale exodus of vessels from the strait within the two-week ceasefire period.”

Moreover, Iran has clearly stated that this opening will be conducted under Iranian military control, meaning approval for passage, assignment of sequence, and actual navigation will all require significant time. In response, a government official from South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy remarked: “At present, it is difficult to provide a precise timeline for confirming the navigation status of the Strait of Hormuz.” The government plans to confirm Iran’s specific requirements through “multi-directional communications.”

Despite this, the government maintains its original stance: “We will not conduct individual negotiations with Iran regarding South Korean vessels.” On the same day, the Foreign Ministry reiterated in a press statement: “The South Korean government hopes to ensure rapid, safe, and free navigation for South Korean and other vessels,” and “to this end, we will continue to communicate and negotiate with relevant countries.”

Iran’s position is that even after a formal end to hostilities, it will maintain control over the strait in some form. Ultimately, this will depend on subsequent negotiations between the U.S. and Iran. However, public opinion suggests that the situation in the strait is unlikely to return to pre-war levels.

Source: Chosun Ilbo

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1861956932306954/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.