Shipping stalls in Strait of Hormuz after Iran says waterway is closed
Oil tankers and cargo ships are anchored off Sultan Qaboos Port in Muscat, Oman, on June 21, 2026. The Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route for the region’s oil and gas, has been effectively blockaded since the outbreak of war between the United States and Iran in late February. On Sunday, US Vice President JD Vance arrived in Switzerland for high-level talks with the Iranian delegation; Both sides are trying to clarify the terms for ending the war.
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Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz halted over the weekend after Iran announced it was again closing the world’s most important oil chokepoint, according to maritime intelligence firm Windward.
The update came even as industry trackers showed Iranian tankers continued to transit the strait, a narrow waterway that handles about 20% of the world’s oil traffic.
There was a recovery in oil tanker traffic in the strait immediately after the United States and Iran signed a 14-point memorandum of understanding (MOU) last week, but recent data show that it has already reached a stalemate.
An analysis published by Windward found that a total of 12 ships transited the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday; this figure was more than 21 the day before. Five of the eight arriving ships are said to be dark; This means a ship disables its Automatic Identification System, or AIS transponder, to conceal its location, identity and destination.
“Current traffic profile: dark, sanctioned, Iran-related, more like a baseline in the final phase of the blockade than a functioning open strait,” Windward said. in question in a social media post on Sunday.
Business intelligence firm Kpler said at least 20 tankers passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday last week, reflecting the highest level of traffic since June 2. This was still well below pre-war levels, when more than 100 ships, including dozens of tankers, passed through the strait every day.
A separate analysis published Monday by shipping specialist Lloyd’s List found that commercial traffic continued to pass through the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend, challenging Iran’s claims that it had once again closed the waterway.
Iran announced on Saturday that it had closed the strategically vital strait, citing ceasefire violations after Israel continued its deadly attacks in southern Lebanon.
The US military denied these claims, stating that the waterway remained open and “Iran does not control the Strait of Hormuz.”
As of Saturday night, at least 15 Iranian-flagged Suezmax and very large crude oil carriers (VLCC) sailed from the Gulf of Oman with AIS signals active, according to Lloyd’s List.
US-Iran talks in Switzerland
It was stated that during the talks, both sides made progress in reaching a final agreement within 60 days, including an agreement to establish a committee and mechanism to end hostilities in Lebanon.
A senior Pakistani official and an Iranian official who attended the talks in Bürgenstock told MS NOW that the talks started in the early hours and were “constructive but tense.”
Under the Memorandum of Understanding, both sides agreed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz free of charge for at least 60 days and to end all hostilities, including in Lebanon, where clashes between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah continue.
Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said the country has granted exemptions for oil and petrochemical exports, the blockade of its ports has been lifted, some frozen assets have been released and a reconstruction and development plan has been launched.
There was President Donald Trump threatened more attacks On Iran before the talks in Switzerland. “Iran must immediately stop its high-paid PROXYS from causing trouble in Lebanon. If they don’t, we will hit Iran very hard again, just like we did last week, only harder!!!” Trump said in a social media post on Sunday.
Large commercial ships and a small boat navigate the waters off Iran’s southern port city of Bandar Abbas on June 21, 2026.
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Vice President JD Vance, who led the US delegation in the talks, said he was optimistic about the results of the Swiss talks despite Iran’s latest threat to close the strait.
He also downplayed the impact of the violence in Lebanon, saying progress was being made towards ending hostilities there. “These are always a little bit complicated,” Vance said.
— CNBC’s Anniek Bao and Spencer Kimball contributed to this report.
