Tensions rise in Strait of Hormuz as Iran maintains blockade despite Oman agreement

Six months after Iran restricted access to the Strait of Hormuz, maritime traffic through the strategic corridor has fallen from 95 to around 15 daily transits. Iranian authorities reiterated that the waterway will not reopen until Washington lifts oil sanctions, unfreezes Iranian assets, and halts military operations.

While Tehran reported reaching an agreement with Oman on a safe navigation route, military confrontations have intensified. Following Iranian deployments of rocket-launched sea mines against nocturnal US oil transits, American forces launched strikes on Larak Island targeting Iranian mine-laying infrastructure. The ongoing disruption threatens global energy supply, as the passage historically handled approximately one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas consumption.

Sources: Expresso, Expresso das Ilhas, Jornal Económico, RTP (Rádio e Televisão de Portugal).