Traffic in the Strait of Hormuz continued in both directions despite an attack on the container vessel Ever Lovely on June 25, the first since the interim US-Iran peace agreement. Western navies had recommended a southern route along Oman's coast, which the Ever Lovely was using when it was hit. Following the incident, some shipowners reviewed their transit plans, with at least one Asian company revising earlier decisions to exit the Gulf and instructing vessels to hold position while options were reassessed. An empty liquefied natural gas carrier also reportedly turned around while using the Iranian route. However, some shipowners demonstrated confidence, with one oil tanker owned by a company that hadn't crossed Hormuz since the war began exiting the Gulf in the hours after the attack.
While traffic continued, there was a noticeable decrease in daily crossings compared to pre-war levels and recent highs. UK Maritime Trade Operations reported that the US had facilitated 80 ship crossings through Hormuz between June 23 and 24, significantly lower than the pre-war average of 138 vessels per day. Data from Kpler showed 42 commodity vessels crossed on June 25, down from a high of 57 on June 24, with 17 of these using the Omani route where the attack occurred. By the afternoon of June 26, another 29 commodity vessels had crossed.
The incident prompted mixed reactions and continued contention over the Strait's management. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) canceled a coordinated evacuation plan for ships and a press conference after the attack. Iran's foreign ministry stated that Hormuz management would follow the US agreement, but its deputy foreign minister warned that safe transit without Iranian permission couldn't be guaranteed. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) also reiterated warnings against using routes not designated by Iran, claiming the Omani corridor was announced without Tehran's consultation. The US, leaning on Oman, seeks to ensure the strait remains toll-free, rejecting any attempts to assert control or impose fees.
Despite warnings and the attack, some ships continued to use both the Iranian route and the Omani route. Prior to the attack, Iranian authorities had warned against journeys outside their designated transit routes, leading some ships to turn around. However, two fully laden tankers were observed leaving the Persian Gulf, and four empty very large crude carriers were entering along the Omani coast. Outbound vessels on the Omani route included an India-bound Aframax, a US-sanctioned tanker, and a fully laden VLCC from the UAE. Brent North Sea crude oil prices dived more than 5% on June 26, reflecting optimism about the strait reopening, despite experts cautioning against considering the crisis over given ongoing negotiations for a long-term settlement.
Bloomberg tracking data earlier indicated an accelerated flow of oil through Hormuz, with tankers hauling approximately 20 million barrels of crude observed passing between Friday and Sunday, the highest transparent flow since before the war began. Tehran itself contributed to this by pushing 6 million barrels through on Monday morning. Prior to the attack, more ships were openly broadcasting their locations while transiting, suggesting growing confidence among shipowners. Seven tankers, including two fully-laden non-Iranian supertankers, were either in or had crossed the strait on Tuesday, all broadcasting their locations.
