Malaysian vessels have been permitted to travel through the Strait of Hormuz following talks between Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Mr Ibrahim announced on Thursday. In a televised address, he thanked Iran for allowing the passage of Malaysian oil tankers and their crews, stating that arrangements were being made for their return home.
Malaysia, despite being an oil producer, relies on the strait for approximately 50% of its oil supply. Mr Ibrahim noted that the blockade, war, and halted oil and gas supplies were impacting the country, necessitating diplomatic management of the situation.
Since Iranian forces effectively blocked the strait in retaliation against US and Israeli strikes, a limited number of cargo ships and tankers—mostly Iranian, with some from Thailand and China—have transited the waterway. A Thai oil tanker passed safely earlier this week after diplomatic coordination, without paying to escape the blockade, according to Thai officials.
At least two Chinese-owned liquefied petroleum gas carriers have also reportedly transited the strait, while a Chinese containership, the Newvoyager, paid Iranian authorities for passage, as reported by Lloyd's List. Meanwhile, a Thai-flagged cargo ship hit by projectiles earlier this month ran aground off Iran's Qeshm Island; 20 crew were rescued by the Omani navy, with three missing after an explosion caused a fire.
The UK has offered to host an international security summit to develop a plan to reopen the strait, through which about 20% of global oil supplies typically pass, as the economic fallout from the Iran conflict continues.
