A CMA CGM-owned container vessel has become the first Western European ship to pass through the Strait of Hormuz since Iran introduced maritime restrictions amid the ongoing West Asia conflict, EuroNews reported.
The Maltese-flagged CMA CGM Kribi sailed eastbound from waters off Dubai on Thursday, broadcasting its French ownership as it used an Iranian-approved corridor between Qeshm and Larak islands, according to ship-tracking data. The vessel had reportedly been anchored in the Gulf since early March, one of several non-Iranian ships idled after commercial traffic in the area fell sharply. CMA CGM, majority-owned by the Saade family, coordinated the transit with Iranian maritime authorities to secure passage.
The Kribi is believed to be bound for Pointe-Noire on a route that links India, the Gulf and Africa. EuroNews noted that the successful passage follows earlier transits by Chinese-linked vessels and could signal a gradual resumption of international shipping through the strategic corridor if conditions remain stable.
Separately, amid reports of a maritime blockade of the Strait of Hormuz by hostile vessels, senior Iranian lawmakers have suggested Tehran could widen pressure to other chokepoints. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Speaker of Iran’s Parliament, posted on X questioning the share of global oil, LNG, wheat, rice and fertilizer shipments that pass through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and asking which countries and companies account for the largest transit volumes—comments widely read as an indication Tehran is weighing where it could exert leverage.
Meanwhile, following reports of the destruction of military aircraft, U.S. President Trump said the incident would not derail diplomatic talks with Iran, telling reporters it would not affect negotiations and declining to discuss details of ongoing search-and-rescue efforts, citing operational sensitivity. He also criticized press coverage of what he described as a complex and active military operation.
(This report is drawn from a syndicated feed and is published as received. The publisher assumes no responsibility for its accuracy or completeness.)
