Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz came to a halt on May 4, despite statements by the Trump administration to keep the strait open. The US military said two US-flagged merchant ships had passed through the strait.
This is reported by Reuters and the Associated Press.
Reuters reports that on May 4, only a liquefied gas tanker and a seabed cable-laying vessel entered the Gulf of Oman, which lies between the Strait of Hormuz and the Arabian Sea.
Meanwhile, US Central Command said it would “begin helping restore freedom of navigation” through the strait on May 4 and continue its blockade of Iranian ports.
But the Joint Maritime Information Center, led by the United States, said the threat level to maritime security in the strait remained “critical.” The center recommended that shipping companies consider alternative routes through the Arabian Sea.
The Associated Press reports that the US military reports the “successful passage” of two US-flagged merchant ships through the Strait of Hormuz. The Americans also reported that US Navy guided-missile destroyers in the Persian Gulf are “helping to restore shipping.”
The US military also denied Iran's claim that a US ship had been attacked near its coast. Iranian state media said the US vessel was “forced to turn back” due to the Iranian attack. Central Command said “no ships were harmed”.