German Shipowners await reliable guarantees in Strait of Hormuz

The renewed closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran on Saturday highlights the fragility of the situation for companies operating in the Gulf region, according to German shipowners.

"A reliable and safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz is still not guaranteed under these conditions," said the German Shipowners' Association (VDR) in Hamburg.

Shipping companies and crews need stable and internationally coordinated framework conditions, the association told dpa.

"Without reliable safety guarantees, there can be no sustainable normalization of shipping traffic in this region, which is crucial for global trade," it said.

Iran reversed Friday's announced opening of the Strait of Hormuz after just one day, due to the continuing US blockade of Iranian ports, said a spokesman for the armed forces headquarters, according to the Fars news agency.

Therefore, control over the strategically vital waterway had again been placed under the strict administration and control of the military, the spokesman said.

Iran closed the narrow strait after the start of the attacks by Israel and the United States on February 28.

While Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Friday declared the passage open for trade during the current ceasefire, Tehran attached conditions, including an end to the US naval blockade on Iran's ports.

The blockade would remain in place "until such time as our transaction with Iran is 100% complete," US President Donald Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform on Friday after the strait was reopened.