Negotiations between the US and Iran broke down; two supertankers turned around in the Strait of Hormuz.
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US-Iran negotiations have reached a stalemate, and expectations for the resumption of normal passage through the Strait of Hormuz in the short term have once again been dashed.
On April 12, according to Bloomberg, two empty supertankers suddenly turned back after approaching a key checkpoint in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, which coincided precisely with the announcement in Islamabad by US and Iranian negotiators that talks had collapsed.
During the previous negotiations, military activity had also intensified. According to CCTV news, on the 11th Eastern US time, US Central Command announced that two US Navy guided missile destroyers passed through the Strait of Hormuz and entered the Persian Gulf, saying that this was part of a mission to completely clear mines laid by the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in the strait. A spokesman for Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters immediately issued a strong denial, stating that the right of passage for any vessel through the Strait of Hormuz is completely controlled by the Iranian armed forces.
Since the outbreak of the Middle East conflict, the Strait of Hormuz has effectively been blockaded, resulting in an unprecedented disruption of energy supplies. The breakdown of these negotiations means that the issue of strait passage will be difficult to resolve in the short term, and market concerns over crude oil supply are expected to intensify.
Two tankers turn back, third passes through successfully
According to vessel tracking data, three super large crude carriers (VLCCs) with no direct ties to Iran approached the Strait of Hormuz from the Gulf of Oman late Saturday night, and arrived near Iran’s Larak Island in the early hours of Sunday.
At the actual checkpoint, the Agios Fanourios I, bound for Iraq, and the Shalamar, sailing under the Pakistani flag with a destination of Das Island in the UAE, both turned back in succession. The third VLCC, Mombasa B, continued on the Iranian-approved channel between Larak Island and Qeshm Island into the Persian Gulf, but has not yet signaled a clear destination.
The specific reason for turning back remains unclear. Bloomberg pointed out that Iraq and Pakistan had previously received transit permits from Iran, but the withdrawal of the two ships happened to occur at the same time the US-Iran talks collapsed.
Strait remains volatile, transit risks remain high
Since the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, many vessels have attempted passage only to abandon partway, reflecting the ongoing instability of local security, according to Bloomberg. In recent weeks, several container ships turned back at the end of last month before finally making it through; an LNG carrier also turned back midway last week.
Bloomberg also reported that there was a brief positive sign on Saturday—two supertankers and a Greek vessel, all loaded with crude oil, exited the Persian Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz. Had all three ships on Sunday passed through successfully, it would have extended this positive momentum, but the final outcome failed to meet market expectations.
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