Commercial ships transit Strait of Hormuz under UN maritime plan

WASHINGTON, United States — LONDON — The United Nations International Maritime Organization said on Wednesday that a number of commercial vessels have begun transiting the Strait of Hormuz under its newly approved plan. An IMO spokesperson confirmed the ships had started moving through the strait but did not provide details on the vessels involved. Ship-tracking data from the London Stock Exchange Group showed at least two bulk carriers and one cargo ship passed through the strait under the plan within the previous twelve hours. A Reuters analysis said at least 35 additional commercial vessels, mostly bulk carriers, cargo ships and container ships, were reported to be moving toward the strait for transit. The IMO announced on Tuesday that the plan, approved after months of work, would allow hundreds of ships stranded in the Persian Gulf and carrying around 11,000 seafarers to sail through the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Iran was not collecting transit fees from the strait and was not receiving any payment from Washington. Oil prices extended losses from the previous session, tracking signs of recovery in crude shipments through Hormuz and a calmer tone following the first peace talks between Washington and Tehran.