NYT: US quietly guides commercial ships through strategic Hormuz chokepoint

American forces in recent weeks have assisted in coordinating the movement of dozens of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, according to US officials cited by The New York Times (NYT), even as transit through the waterway remains hazardous amid stalled negotiations aimed at ending the war with Iran.

US Central Command has overseen roughly 70 commercial ships passing through the strait, both entering and exiting the Persian Gulf, over the past three weeks, one of the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss operational matters. The officials also stated that most of the vessels switched off their transponders to avoid detection while navigating the narrow passage.

The sources declined to specify the types of ships involved or the exact routes taken, though one indicated that at least one path avoided areas close to the Iranian coastline. US officials said vessels passing near Iran without Tehran’s approval risk almost certain attacks involving Iranian drones or missiles. Maritime analysts say the US-assisted crossings appear to favour routes closer to Oman.

Prior to US-Israeli strikes on Iran in late February, more than 100 commercial vessels transited the strait daily. By comparison, the US-coordinated movements—averaging around three ships per day over the three-week period—do not signal a substantial recovery in shipping activity. Because these US-guided passages occur with transponders switched off, referred to as “dark” passages, analysts note they cannot independently verify the total number of crossings.

Still, the continued flow of ships under US coordination suggests that some operators remain willing to accept the risks in order to move in and out of the Persian Gulf, where numerous vessels have been stuck for weeks, incurring losses and placing crews under difficult conditions.

The US-facilitated route also provides an option for shipowners seeking to avoid obtaining Iranian clearance or paying fees for passage. The ongoing confrontation with Iran has significantly reduced energy flows to global markets.

By Jeyhun Aghazada