Iran Allows Passage of Two Tankers Held in Strait of Hormuz

Iran has authorized the passage of two tankers that had been held in the Strait of Hormuz for three months. The Iranian military issued a map on May 4 defining its control zones and the mandatory transit routes for vessels in the area. The Japanese-owned LNG tanker Fujrat, carrying a cargo of Qatari natural gas, is en route to Pakistan. The oil tanker Eagle Verona, chartered by the Chinese firm Sinopec and carrying Iraqi crude oil, is proceeding to the port of Ningbo in China. The Strait of Hormuz serves as a primary transit point for oil and natural gas shipments from Gulf nations to global markets. Recent tensions in the region have disrupted the export of both petroleum and liquefied natural gas.