Although President Donald Trump has declared the Strait of Hormuz reopened under the terms of the U.S.-Iran ceasefire agreement, major obstacles continue to prevent a full return to normal commercial shipping, with naval mines, security concerns, and conflicting messages from Tehran still disrupting one of the world’s most vital maritime routes.

According to multiple reports, commercial traffic is unlikely to fully recover until Iranian naval mines scattered throughout key shipping corridors are located and removed. Maritime experts say the cleanup effort is expected to be lengthy, technically complex, and potentially dangerous.

The Guardian reported that approximately 80 naval mines remain in or near major transit lanes used by commercial vessels traveling through the strategic waterway.

Shipping and naval officials say clearing the mines will require specialized vessels and painstaking mine-sweeping operations before maritime traffic can safely resume at pre-war levels.

“The main route … through the middle of the Strait of Hormuz, that’s closed, that’s dangerous,” said Phil Belcher, marine director at Intertanko, the tanker owners’ association, according to the Guardian.

The publication also reported that nearly 600 vessels remain stranded in the Persian Gulf after spending months at anchor, creating a significant backlog that could take considerable time to clear even if conditions continue to improve.

Richard Meade, editor-in-chief at maritime intelligence provider Lloyd’s List, warned that the shipping industry is facing unprecedented uncertainty.

“We are in uncharted territory. I don’t think [shipping in the strait] is getting back to normal this year,” according to the Guardian report.

Complicating matters further are mixed signals coming from Iran regarding the status of the waterway.

While Iranian Foreign Ministry officials have insisted that the Strait of Hormuz remains open and that shipping is proceeding normally, statements from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps have painted a far different picture, suggesting that access remains subject to strict conditions.

According to reports, an IRGC message broadcast over maritime radio channels warned vessels against entering the strait until Tehran’s demands are met.

“Since Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanon, the complete lifting of the naval blockade, and the withdrawal of American terrorist forces from the Persian Gulf and the region are among the main conditions of the agreement between Iran and the United States, the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until these conditions are met,” that Revolutionary Guards statement said. “All ships are requested, for the sake of their security and safety, not to approach the Strait of Hormuz.

“Any vessel that defies this directive will be targeted.”

Those warnings stand in sharp contrast to the Trump administration’s public assessment of the situation.

Trump has repeatedly stated that the maritime passage has reopened under the ceasefire framework and that commercial energy shipments are once again moving through the region. Administration officials have similarly described shipping activity as resuming.

The president has characterized the waterway as “completely open” and “safe” for international commerce, arguing that the agreement has restored stability to a critical global trade route.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei also sought to reassure shipping companies and trading partners.

“Iran has taken the necessary measures to ensure the safe passage of merchant ships through the Strait of Hormuz, in accordance with the memorandum of understanding on the end of the war, and maritime traffic continues on this route,” he said.

Despite those assurances, shipping activity remains far below normal levels.

Industry data show that vessel traffic has recovered somewhat from wartime lows, with roughly 25 ships now passing through the strait each day. However, that figure remains dramatically below the pre-crisis average of approximately 125 to 140 daily transits.

At the height of the disruption, traffic reportedly fell to only a handful of ships per day as insurers, shipping companies, and energy traders pulled back amid fears of naval mines, electronic interference, and broader regional conflict.

Even as traffic gradually rebounds, many major shipping firms remain cautious. Insurance costs continue to reflect elevated risks, while some operators are still rerouting vessels or delaying voyages until security conditions improve further.

The stakes remain enormous. The Strait of Hormuz serves as one of the most important energy chokepoints on earth, carrying roughly 20 percent of the world’s oil supply along with a significant portion of global liquefied natural gas exports. Until the remaining security threats are eliminated, industry leaders warn that a full return to normal operations remains far from certain.

{Matzav.com}