WANA (Jun 22) – Four giant Qatari liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers entered the Strait of Hormuz on Monday through routes approved by Iran, marking the first such transit since regional tensions and conflict erupted. The development comes as Western officials describe progress in the Switzerland talks as a potential breakthrough for navigation in the strategic waterway.

 

Shipping data from Kpler shows that the LNG carriers Wadi Al Sail, Mekaines, Al Sadd, and Mesaimeer were heading toward the Strait of Hormuz on Monday. According to Reuters, the vessels are using Iran’s maritime corridor for the first time since the outbreak of the regional conflict.

 

The move comes amid a sharp decline in traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Maritime tracking data indicates that vessel movements have fallen significantly in recent hours following Iran’s renewed declaration that the waterway remains closed in response to what it describes as ceasefire violations by Israel and the United States.

 

Kpler data shows that only five ships passed through the strait on Sunday. Among them were three large tankers, each carrying approximately two million barrels of Saudi crude oil and fuel oil. One of the vessels was reportedly bound for Japan.

 

Bloomberg reported that virtually all ships currently transiting the Strait of Hormuz are doing so through routes approved by Iran, with many obtaining safe-passage authorization after negotiations with Iranian authorities.