Middle East

The Islamabad MOU is signed and in effect, with the formal ceremony in Switzerland today – toll-free reopening and removal of the US naval blockade authorised, and a 60-day nuclear negotiating window now open. Traffic is resuming: the first tanker since the conflict transited 15 June, Saudi supertankers have followed, and 40–50 vessels exited the western strait over 16–18 June. The regional maritime threat level has eased for the first time in the crisis, though mines remain. Container lines have not resumed – early indications suggest a sustained period of incident-free transit will be needed before insurers and owners normalise. Brent is down to ~$79/barrel. Note: Iran claims toll-free passage is capped at 60 days, contradicting the US “unconditional” position. Cape routing remains the operational baseline.

The US and Iran announced on 14 June that they have reached an agreement to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, with a 14-point MoU due to be signed on 19 June in Switzerland. Trump authorised toll-free reopening and the removal of the US naval blockade, effective on signing, alongside a 60-day nuclear negotiating window, sanctions relief, and the unfreezing of an estimated $24 billion in Iranian assets. Markets rallied — Brent fell 4.1% to $83.75, its lowest since March. Physical resumption will lag the agreement: carriers are expected to move cautiously pending insurance, mine clearance and safe-passage confirmation, with pre-war traffic levels previously estimated at 6–8 weeks to restore. Cape of Good Hope routing remains the operational baseline.

The truce has collapsed. The US conducted a second consecutive night of airstrikes across Iran (10–11 June); Iran retaliated with strikes on Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan. The IRGC has declared the Strait of Hormuz “closed until further notice” and warned that all traffic, including commercial vessels, will be fired upon – the most explicit closure of the crisis. Transits stood at just 2 on 10 June against a baseline of ~94/day, with ~265 vessels anchored or stopped across the Gulf. The 60-day MOU on reopening is effectively suspended. No carrier is transiting; Cape routing remains the operational baseline. Brent had eased to ~$92/barrel but is under renewed upward pressure following the escalation.

The strait remains effectively closed. Transit data as of 31 May recorded just 10 daily transits against a pre-crisis baseline of 95, with around 300 vessels alongside and 256 anchored or drifting in Gulf waters. A 60-day MOU described as “largely negotiated” on 23 May has not been formally signed. No carrier has announced a return to direct Hormuz transits. Cape routing remains the operational baseline for all Asia–Europe services.

Hormuz: zero transits for consecutive days. No vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz on 18 or 19 May — the lowest recorded since the conflict began on 28 February. Peace talks remain deadlocked; Operation Project Freedom suspended. Cape of Good Hope routing remains the only viable option for Asia–Europe container services

Forto is updating its booking policy for the Middle East region, effective 20 March 2026.

Arabian Gulf: Sea freight bookings remain suspended. Major shipping lines continue to hold bookings to the Arabian Gulf as the Strait of Hormuz remains de facto closed to commercial container traffic. We are unable to accept new sea freight shipments to this area until carrier services resume and will communicate proactively when this changes. Air freight to select destinations may be available on a case-by-case basis.

Other Middle East destinations: Forto is now reviewing booking requests on a case-by-case basis, subject to carrier acceptance for the specific route. The situation remains dynamic and each request will be individually assessed by our operations team, taking into account the latest security and operational conditions for the specific origin, destination, and transport mode.

To discuss a shipment to the Middle East, please contact your Forto representative or reach us at forto.com/en/contact-us

Bahrain — APM Terminals has resumed operations at Khalifa Bin Salman Port; vessel movements ongoing but limited due to restricted pilot availability. ISPS Level 1. Qatar — Hamad Port, Doha Port, Al Ruwais Port operational but activity levels lower than pre-conflict; Al Ruwais restricted to small craft only; Mesaieed and Ras Laffan ongoing; Al Shaheen Terminal and Halul Island Terminal suspended until further notice. Jordan — all operations normal at Aqaba Port. Egypt — all ports and Suez Canal operating without disruption.

Confirmation of Port of Salalah CT and GCT resuming operations as of 16 March — liquid cargo operations still suspended. Duqm operational with DG restrictions in place for all calling vessels. Salalah resumption is significant — the port had been suspended since drone strikes on 11 March. As the only major transshipment hub in the western Indian Ocean outside both chokepoint risk zones, Salalah resuming container operations is a material development for shippers with Gulf-bound cargo.

Strait of Hormuz commercial container traffic remains at a standstill — 16 days since de facto closure. Salalah, Khor Fakkan, Sohar, and Jeddah confirmed as the four primary alternative gateway ports for Gulf-bound cargo.

Qatar’s Ministry of Transport advises that shipping lines may route raw materials and consumer goods destined for Hamad Port via designated alternative ports: first alternative — Sohar and Duqm; second alternative — Fujairah and Khor Fakkan. This is the first official alternative routing guidance issued by a Gulf government authority — material for shippers with Qatar-bound cargo.

Salalah remains suspended following drone strikes earlier in the week — only bunkering operations at anchorage have resumed.

Suez Canal and all Egyptian ports remain fully operational at ISPS Level 1.

Forto suspends all new Sea Freight and Air Freight bookings to the Arabian Gulf, effective immediately.

Inchcape port advisory (16:30 UAE): Fujairah fire incidents at adjacent oil zone confirmed contained; port operating normally. GPS jamming and signal spoofing reported offshore Fujairah. Port of Mesaieed (Qatar): mandatory night pilotage in effect due to GPS signal degradation. Kuwait — all ports suspended; vessels evacuating to anchorage. Bahrain Khalifa Bin Salman Port: suspended.

Jebel Ali (DP World): all four terminals confirmed fully operational following precautionary closure on 1 March. Khor Fakkan confirmed open and operating at full capacity.

All major ocean carriers confirm Hormuz suspension. MSC suspends all Middle East bookings. Maersk suspends reefer, DG, and special cargo to Gulf countries; India ↔ Upper Gulf bookings suspended. COSCO instructs Gulf-area vessels to safe waters. HMM, OOCL, ONE, Evergreen confirm Middle East booking suspensions.

US-Israel strikes on Iran confirmed 28 February–1 March. IRGC broadcasts Hormuz closure warnings via VHF; confirmed by UKMTO and EUNAVFOR ASPIDES. Brent crude +8.8% to $79.30/bbl. DP World implements precautionary suspension at Jebel Ali — subsequently reopened same day. Linerlytica co-founder Hua Joo Tan (Lloyd’s List Intelligence): approximately 170 containerships / 450,000 TEU inside the Gulf facing movement restrictions.