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Iran Warns Non-Compliant Ships in Hormuz Risk Fines, Detention

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Iran has warned that ships violating its transit rules in the Strait of Hormuz could face fines and detention, as the number of non-compliant vessels reached 46, the Persian Gulf Strait Authority said on social media Sunday.

"Vessels violating Iranian protocols for the Strait of Hormuz shall face restrictions on future passages, including fines, detention, or confiscation," PGSA said in a translated post on X.

The PGSA's list of vessels mostly includes those engaged in shuttle runs to transport oil through the waterway and transfer cargo to more risk-averse ships outside Hormuz, the Financial Times reported Monday. Iran had targeted several of these vessels while transiting the strait without its permission.

Representatives from Iran and Oman are reportedly set to meet this week to discuss the security of the passageway and transit routes. The two countries are jointly finalizing a strategic action plan on the management of Hormuz.

Amid Middle East tensions and shipping restrictions, commercial ship trackers have seen a decline in the volume of crude and oil products transiting the strait, but the US administration has reported much higher quantities, WSJ reported Monday.

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said in a post on X Saturday that "the US military helped ship over 15 million barrels of oil and products out of the Strait of Hormuz - combined with pipelines, the total leaving the region is closer to 20 mmbbls."

Wright also highlighted that the seven-day average for oil transiting the strait exceeds 8 million barrels per day. Earlier this month, he said that the average was at around 9 mmbbls/day.

However, trackers could not verify the numbers, according to WSJ, with estimates only ranging from 2 mmbbls/d to 6 mmbbls/d.

Kpler reportedly estimates exports through the Hormuz at about 2.3 mmbbls/d in August, down from 4.9 mmbbls/d in July. Huax said the range is from 2 mmbbls/d to 5 mmbbls/d.

Johnston's latest seven-day average stands at about 4 mmbbls/d, with potential to increase up to 6 mmbbls/d considering those ships that turn their transponders off while in the waterway, according to the report.

Vortexa, meanwhile, reportedly said that the seven-day average recently peaked at 9.2 mmbbls/d, but the 28-day moving average remains at around 6 mmbbls/d.

has reached out to the US Department of Energy for comment.

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