Strait of Hormuz fully closed, forcing oil tankers to turn back

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Strait of Hormuz fully closed, forcing oil tankers to turn back

2026-04-09 11:13 Last Updated At：04-10 11:04

Vessels movement through the Strait of Hormuz following a U.S.-Iran ceasefire was halted, with the strategic waterway now fully closed and oil tankers forced to turn back, according to Iran's state-run Press TV.

Maritime tracking data from MarineTraffic showed that two vessels, the Greek-owned bulk carrier NJ Earth and the Liberian-flagged vessel Daytona Beach, became the first ships to transit the strait on Wednesday following the two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran on Tuesday.

However, the situation deteriorated sharply later after Israel launched large-scale strikes across Lebanon which has killed at least 254 people.

According to Iran's semi-official Fars news agency, Iran halted all oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz in response to the attacks.

The Press TV said the strait was fully closed, forcing several tankers that had begun heading toward the exit to reverse course and return deeper into the Persian Gulf.

Shipping analytics firm Kpler reported that, as of Tuesday, more than 1,000 vessels, including 187 laden tankers, were still waiting in the region. Even under normal navigation conditions, it takes more than two weeks for these ships to queue up and leave the strait.

Iran's Ports and Maritime Organization on Wednesday released a safe navigation chart for the Strait of Hormuz, advising all vessels to strictly follow designated routes to avoid the risk of mines.

Tokyo stocks end higher on dip buying of tech shares

Tokyo stocks ended higher on Tuesday, buoyed by bargain-hunting in some heavyweight technology shares.

The benchmark 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended up 500.77 points, or 0.74 percent, from Monday at 67,743.50.

The broader Topix index finished 31.49 points, or 0.79 percent, higher at 4,038.98. On the top-tier Prime Market, mining, marine transportation, and chemical issues were notable gainers.

The market swung between gains and losses amid growing concern over oil supplies after U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington was reinstating a naval blockade on Iran in the Strait of Hormuz.

Analysts said persistent uncertainty surrounding the Middle East conflict, coupled with higher oil prices, is keeping investors cautious.

Heavyweight semiconductor and artificial intelligence-related shares initially tracked overnight losses on Wall Street, dragging the Nikkei index down by nearly 1,000 points at one stage.

However, bargain-hunting emerged following recent declines, lifting the market to end in positive territory.