A French container ship, three Oman-linked tankers, and a Japanese gas carrier have safely crossed the Strait of Hormuz. This marks the first such passage for French and Japanese vessels since the Iran-Israel war began in late February 2026.
The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway between Iran and Oman. It carries about one-fifth of the world’s oil and natural gas. After US and Israeli strikes on Iran, Tehran largely closed the strait to most international shipping. Iran said it would only allow “non-hostile” ships with no US or Israeli links to pass.
The French ship, a Malta-flagged container vessel owned by giant CMA CGM, crossed on April 2 or 3. It was the first Western European-owned ship to make the journey since the conflict started. Tracking data showed it sailed south near Oman’s coast.
A Japanese-owned liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier, the Sohar LNG (co-owned by Mitsui OSK Lines), also passed through. It was the first Japanese-linked vessel to exit the Gulf. Three tankers linked to Oman crossed as well, some using a southern route close to Oman’s shore.
It is not clear how these ships got permission. Some reports suggest Iran runs a kind of “toll booth” system for approved vessels. Many ships turned off their tracking signals during the crossing for safety. Dozens of other Japanese and foreign ships remain stuck in the area.
These rare transits show small signs of movement in global shipping. However, traffic in the vital strait stays very low. France and Japan have called for peace talks to fully reopen the waterway and ease energy worries worldwide.
