Iran limits Strait of Hormuz commercial transits to four, says passage closed to 'enemies'

Iran has not announced a new four-ship cap on the Strait of Hormuz today. On Monday, April 27, shipping data showed only seven vessels crossed the waterway as U.S.-Iran talks remained stalled. (usnews.com) That is far below normal traffic. Before the war that began on February 28, more than 100 ships a day used the strait, and the route carried about one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas flows. (usnews.com 1) (usnews.com 2) The latest slowdown follows a brief rebound. CNBC reported that at least 20 ships transited on April 20 before traffic slowed again after attacks on commercial vessels. (cnbc.com) Iran has repeatedly changed its message on access. Reuters reported on April 18 that merchant ships heard radio warnings saying the strait was "completely closed again," and two vessels reported gunfire near Qeshm and Larak islands. (usnews.com) On April 23, Iran’s state media broadcast video of armed commandos boarding the MSC Francesca, and Tehran said it had also captured the Epaminondas for trying to cross without permits. (usnews.com) The United States has also changed its posture in the waterway. U.S. Central Command said on April 12 it would blockade maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports while not impeding ships bound for non-Iranian ports. (news.usni.org) Earlier this month, two U.S. Navy destroyers, USS Frank E. Petersen and USS Michael Murphy, transited the strait to begin setting conditions for mine-clearing. Adm. Brad Cooper said the military was establishing a new passage to encourage commerce. (news.usni.org) On Monday, the diplomatic position shifted again. The Associated Press reported that Iran offered to end its chokehold on the strait if the United States lifts its blockade and the war ends, with nuclear talks deferred to a later phase. (apnews.com) Independent shipping trackers are showing the same pattern of severe disruption, though not the exact four-ship figure in the prompt. Windward said eight crossings were recorded on April 26, while Reuters reported seven ships in the latest 24-hour window. (insights.windward.ai) (usnews.com) For now, the clearest fact is not a formal quota but a near-freeze. The strait is still open only in fragments, and every new crossing depends on whether ships, insurers and navies think the next transit can be finished safely. (apnews.com) (usnews.com)