US and Gulf states demand Strait of Hormuz reopening as traffic resumes

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29 days · 11 summary articles
The United States and Gulf states on Friday demanded the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, rejecting any tolls or Iranian attempts to assert control over the vital waterway as ship traffic resumed despite recent attacks and diplomatic tensions.
At a high-level meeting in Manama, Bahrain, US and Gulf Cooperation Council members reiterated their shared objective of preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons while calling for unconditional navigation rights through the strait. “We reject any attempts to impose fees or assert control over the Strait of Hormuz,” a joint statement said . The demand came as 15 Turkish-owned vessels carrying 99 crew members safely exited the strait and Persian Gulf after a 100-day blockade, Turkey’s transport minister announced on Friday .
Iran pushed back, stating that safe passage cannot be guaranteed without prior coordination. “Any credible framework must be based on coordination with Iran under Article 5 of the Islamabad memorandum,” a foreign ministry spokesman said . Iranian authorities also turned back three foreign tankers attempting unauthorized transit through an alternative corridor, declaring such routes illegal and a security risk .
Maritime traffic continued in both directions on Friday despite a drone strike on a container ship that prompted some owners to pause plans. Empty LNG carriers gathered off Qatar’s Ras Laffan, signaling an expected rise in exports as conditions stabilize .
Energy markets reacted swiftly. Brent crude fell 10% over the week to $71.99 per barrel as flows through the strait resumed and supply fears eased, the largest weekly drop in months . The Panama Canal, meanwhile, expects fiscal 2026 revenue to exceed $5.2 billion after the strait’s closure rerouted vessels, with daily traffic peaking at 41 ships and LNG tanker transits rising as Asian buyers turned to US suppliers .
Romania’s interim foreign minister also underscored the need for a safe and full reopening during talks with her Iranian counterpart, stressing navigation freedom to stabilize energy markets .
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