The US blockade on Iranian shipping through the Strait of Hormuz entered its third day on Thursday, followed by what Washington described as a "fully implemented" blockade of Iranian ports, aimed at halting the country’s maritime trade. The move has raised the prospect that Tehran could turn to alternative routes and ports to bypass the restrictions, as questions grow over the effectiveness of the measures and their impact on global energy markets.
The US-Israeli war with Iran has already caused one of the most significant disruptions to global oil and gas supplies, partly due to Iran’s interference with traffic through the strait. Hundreds of tankers and other vessels, along with around 20,000 seafarers, have been stranded in the Gulf since the conflict began on 28 February.
Despite a two-week ceasefire in effect since 8 April, and US President Donald Trump stating on Wednesday that the war was close to ending, control of the strait remains a central issue.
This has prompted renewed questions over how Tehran might circumvent the blockade, whether through alternative export routes or logistical and commercial arrangements that allow it to maintain its presence in global energy markets.
Political and economic circles are closely watching whether the blockade can meaningfully restrict Iranian oil flows, or whether Tehran can sustain exports through workarounds that have historically blunted US sanctions.
Speaking to The New Arab , Iranian analyst Ali Asghar Zargar said the US move builds on previous measures targeting Iranian oil shipments, but now focuses more directly on the Strait of Hormuz and Iranian ports, with Washington signalling it may inspect vessels travelling to and from Iranian terminals, excluding humanitarian cargo.
Zargar said key buyers of Iranian oil, particularly China and India, have rejected the measure and indicated they will continue purchases despite US warnings. He noted that multinational tankers transport Iranian oil to these destinations, making a comprehensive embargo difficult to enforce.
He also highlighted Iran's oil pipeline at Jask port, east of the Strait of Hormuz, which currently carries around 300,000 barrels per day and could be expanded to one million barrels, broadening Iran’s export capacity beyond the Hormuz chokepoint.
In addition, Iran has access to alternative routes, including pipelines through Iraq and the use of tankers sailing under foreign flags, allowing it to partially bypass restrictions in the short term.
Zargar warned that a prolonged blockade could amount to a direct act of war, raising the risk of confrontation between US forces enforcing the blockade and Iranian-linked commercial shipping.
He added that US forces are positioned roughly 250 kilometres from Iran’s coast, while the country maintains multiple ports capable of sustaining non-oil trade.
However, he cautioned that any tightening of restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz could have wider implications for Iran’s oil exports and overall foreign trade.
Iranian oil expert Mostafa Tovangar said Kharg Island in the Persian Gulf, currently Iran’s main oil export terminal, has become a focal point in US-Iran tensions.
He noted that efforts to diversify export routes via the Goureh-Jask pipeline have been hindered by technical challenges and incomplete infrastructure, limiting its effectiveness. Even if shipments avoid the Strait of Hormuz, he said, US sanctions would remain a major obstacle.
Tovangar added that in the short term, the blockade is unlikely to fully halt Iranian exports, pointing to large volumes of floating oil storage and shipments carried by what is often referred to as a “ghost fleet”, particularly towards China, which accounts for the majority of these flows.
Recent developments come amid increasingly assertive signals from Tehran , including suggestions to impose transit fees on ships passing through the strait and to assert greater control over the waterway, moves widely seen by the global shipping industry as a breach of maritime conventions.
According to Reuters, Iran has also proposed allowing vessels to transit through the Omani side of the Strait of Hormuz without risk of attack, provided a broader agreement is reached with the United States.
While such a move could signal de-escalation, it is unlikely on its own to resolve the backlog of vessels awaiting passage.
The proposal would allow Iran to retain control over its territorial waters in the strait while refraining from interference on the Omani side, described by Iranian officials as a goodwill gesture aimed at ending the conflict, contingent on US concessions.
The Strait of Hormuz, just 34 kilometres wide at its narrowest point between Iran and Oman, remains a critical global shipping route, carrying a significant share of the world’s oil, gas and other key commodities.
Meanwhile, member states of the International Maritime Organization meeting this week rejected the idea of Iran imposing transit fees on ships using the strait, warning such a move would “set a dangerous precedent”.