Ships Making It Through Strait Raise Another Big

We reported on Thursday about a United Nations Security Council decision, designed to strive to guarantee secure transport through the Strait of Hormuz. 

The decision from Bahrain: 

“[A]uthorizes member States, acting nationally or through voluntary multinational naval partnerships, with advance notifications to the Security Council,” to use all necessary means “to secure transit passage and to deter attempts to close, obstruct or otherwise interfere with international navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.”

But three countries reportedly blocked the effort.: Russia, China, and France. 

Russia and China are predictable. But France? They’re supposed to be a NATO ally, and they’re going to block the use of all possible means to deal with the Iranian terrorist regime? That’s pretty weaselly. 

READ MORE: Report: Our ‘Ally’ France Just Made Another Incredible Move Regarding the Strait of Hormuz

But it may get worse. 

Now comes word that some more ships made it through the Strait. Among them were ships linked to Japan, Oman, and…you guessed it…France. 

CMA CGM containership passes Strait of Hormuz

A French-owned containership has successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz, marking the first French-owned vessel to pass through the waterway since hostilities escalated at the end of February. According to #MarineTraffic data,… pic.twitter.com/syfT2EOwuw

— MarineTraffic (@MarineTraffic) April 3, 2026

The French ship was allegedly crusing under a Maltese flag. 

What a coincidence, on the same day that they block the decision, allegedly, the first Western-owned ship to make it through. And they went through the Iranian-approved route, through Qeshm and Larak islands, taking the route close to the Iranian coast. So, did France cut a separate deal — was that for blocking the decision? Someone wants to ask that query of the French. 

Meanwhile, three other ships, hugging the south coast route certain for Oman, also made it through the Strait. 

Several tankers, including a probably laden LNG tanker, are making their approach through the Strait of Hormuz, marking the first outbound LNG tanker transit since the start of the conflict. https://t.co/s1Gc5T91zb

— Faytuks Network (@FaytuksNetwork) April 2, 2026

Three tankers linked to Oman had also sailed through the channel, the FT said, without taking the northern route next to the Iranian island. One of them was a liquefied natural fuel tanker co-owned by the Japanese company Mitsui OSK Lines.

The Sohar LNG tanker, which sails under the flag of Panama, has made the journey, according to a assertion made to GWN. Mitsui OSK declined to disclose when the vessel had crossed the strait and whether or not it had made any negotiations to do so.

Now it isn’t clear if they’d made any preparations, but they weren’t operating the “Iran-approved” route. 

But if they make it through safely, that might point out that the southern route is not mined. 

Iranian state media IRNA claimed on Thursday that they have been drafting a protocol to “monitor transit” through the Strait with Oman.  

Tanker site visitors through the key oil-shipping route “should be supervised and coordinated” with the 2 nations, said Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran’s deputy overseas minister of legal and worldwide affairs, according to a translation of IRNA’s report.

“Of course, these requirements will not mean restrictions, but rather to facilitate and ensure safe passage and provide better services to ships that pass through this route,” Gharibabadi reportedly said.

Oman has not confirmed that, so I might not assume that it was true just because Iran says it. 

While Iran is clearly attempting to exercise control, it is also problematic for them in the sense that the more ships that get through, the more it might relieve the markets. And there do seem to be cracks with more getting through, although the site visitors is still nicely below regular. 

Editor’s Note: For many years, former presidents have been all discuss and no motion. Now, Donald Trump is eliminating the risk from Iran once and for all.

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