A French container ship was the first European vessel to pass through the Strait of Hormuz
This is according to Bloomberg.
This is the first recorded instance of a European vessel passing through since hostilities began in the Middle East in late February 2026. The vessel was travelling near the Iranian coast with its identification systems activated, confirming its French affiliation.
Shipping through the strait currently remains minimal due to security risks. Tehran is implementing a system of prior route approval for friendly countries, notably Pakistan and certain Asian states.
Iran is attempting to establish long-term control over the waterway by developing a mechanism for levying transit fees on oil and gas, which is causing concern among the Gulf states.
The French side has not officially commented on this voyage, though President Emmanuel Macron has stated his intention to work towards stabilising the situation in the region.
As of now, 14 more CMA CGM vessels remain blocked in the waters.
