The navigation regime through Hormuz became selective in March: some destinations and "neutral" contours get a chance to pass, while the rest of the markets have to rebuild routes and pay surcharges. Below is a list of countries that appear in public reports as recipients of such a regime.
Navigation through the Strait of Hormuz in March 2026 increasingly looks like an "access by agreement" regime. Public reports and summaries include several destinations whose vessels get a chance to pass if there are diplomatic contacts and no communication with "hostile" circuits.
Countries that are explicitly mentioned in the context of admission:
- Japan — Iran has declared its readiness to allow Japanese-bound vessels to pass through and confirmed consultations with Tokyo.
- China — AP reports indicate that Iran continues to export oil, significant volumes go to China, and some ships pass through the strait under restrictions.
- India — According to AP, the Indian side conducted diplomatic contacts to ensure the passage of individual tankers.
- Pakistan — AP and WSJ mention the passage of Pakistan-bound vessels as an example of transit when negotiating.
For logistics, this format means an increase in prices and uncertainty. There is additional work on compliance, shipowner selection, insurance coverage verification, and routing. Any delivery in the region requires scenarios: a base route and a backup route, plus the contractual right to change the port/line without loss of time.
