TEHRAN, Iran | Iran has blacklisted 45 tankers it says violated its rules for transiting the Strait of Hormuz and warned that the vessels could face fines, detention and cargo confiscation, adding to mounting pressure on commercial shipping as the United States prepares a new round of sanctions against Tehran.
The warning, issued by Iran’s newly established Persian Gulf Strait Authority, also applies to vessels that transfer cargoes with the blacklisted ships, according to Reuters. The move represents a further escalation in Tehran’s efforts to control traffic through the strategic waterway, where commercial shipping has already fallen sharply since the conflict began.
Reuters reported that fewer than 20 commodity vessels crossed the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend. Kpler shipping data showed only four vessels transited the waterway on Sunday and 13 on Saturday, compared with 16 on Friday. Over the week ending August 21, 89 vessels exited and 103 entered the strait, roughly 90% below pre-conflict levels.
The decline has significant implications for global energy markets. The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea and is one of the world’s most important energy chokepoints. Before the current disruption, the U.S. Energy Information Administration estimated that about 20.9 million barrels per day of crude oil, condensate and petroleum products passed through the strait in the first half of 2025, equivalent to about one-fifth of global petroleum liquids consumption and more than one-quarter of global seaborne oil trade. About 11.4 billion cubic feet per day of liquefied natural gas also passed through the waterway.
The disruption has become considerably more severe in 2026. The EIA estimates that oil flows through Hormuz averaged only 4.9 million barrels per day in the second quarter of 2026, down from 21.6 million barrels per day in the final quarter of 2025 before the conflict began. LNG flows also fell sharply, from 10.5 billion cubic feet per day in the fourth quarter of 2025 to only 0.8 billion cubic feet per day in the second quarter of 2026.
The shipping restrictions come as Washington prepares another major economic offensive against Iran. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has described the forthcoming measures as the toughest sanctions in U.S. history and has warned countries that continue doing business with Tehran that they could face economic consequences. Bessent was scheduled to provide details of the measures on Monday.
China, Iran’s most important oil customer, has already warned that it will take steps to protect its interests. China’s Foreign Ministry said Monday that Beijing would closely monitor developments and do what is necessary to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests. Reuters reported that Washington is particularly focused on countries that continue purchasing Iranian oil.
The pressure is already being felt inside Iran. The Iranian rial fell to a record low of about 2.02 million to the U.S. dollar on Monday, according to The Associated Press. The currency’s decline has compounded inflation and rising prices for basic goods in an economy already weakened by sanctions, war-related disruptions and restrictions on oil exports. The International Monetary Fund expects Iran’s economy to contract by more than 5%.
Diplomatic efforts have continued despite the worsening economic and maritime confrontation. Pakistan’s army chief, Gen. Asim Munir, arrived in Tehran on Monday as part of an effort to encourage the United States and Iran to return to negotiations. Reuters reported that U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with Munir before the visit and urged Pakistan to use its influence to encourage Tehran to resume talks. Pakistan previously helped facilitate an interim agreement between Washington and Tehran in June, although that arrangement subsequently collapsed.
Oman is also pursuing a diplomatic role. Iran said Oman’s Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi is scheduled to visit Tehran on Tuesday for further discussions concerning the Strait of Hormuz. Oman has maintained channels with both Iran and Western governments and has previously played a significant role in facilitating dialogue between Washington and Tehran.
Iran’s position has become increasingly tied to the future of the waterway. Tehran has threatened to halt Gulf oil exports if economic pressure continues and has warned unauthorized vessels against attempting to cross the strait. At the same time, Iran has allowed some vessels carrying Iraqi oil to pass, demonstrating that its restrictions are not necessarily a complete closure of the waterway.
The Strait of Hormuz has been a strategic flashpoint for decades. During the 1980s Iran-Iraq War, attacks on commercial tankers in the so-called Tanker War drew international naval involvement and heightened concerns over freedom of navigation in the Persian Gulf. The waterway remains difficult to replace because existing pipelines in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates can bypass only part of the volumes normally transported through Hormuz. The EIA estimates those alternatives could handle about 4.7 million barrels per day, far below historical Hormuz traffic.
The economic consequences extend well beyond the Middle East. About 89% of crude oil and condensate that passed through Hormuz went to Asian markets in the first half of 2025, with China, India, Japan and South Korea accounting for roughly 74% of those flows. Any prolonged disruption therefore places particular pressure on Asian energy supplies and global fuel markets.
For now, the confrontation is unfolding on several fronts at once: Iran is tightening control over maritime traffic, Washington is preparing broader economic sanctions, China’s trade relationship with Tehran is coming under increasing scrutiny, and Pakistan and Oman are attempting to reopen diplomatic channels.
The immediate concern for global markets is whether the escalating sanctions and shipping restrictions will further reduce energy flows through Hormuz or create enough pressure on both sides to bring them back to negotiations. With the waterway already operating at a fraction of its previous traffic levels, further disruption could deepen pressure on oil and gas supplies, shipping costs and economies far beyond the Gulf.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
