Nearly a month after the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran, the Strait of Hormuz has became a deadly corridor that’s paralyzing the worldwide energy supply chain. Of the 138 ships that normally go through here daily, only 5-6 currently make it through these waters.
Amid the blockade, Malaysia and Thailand emerged as Southeast Asian countries to interrupt through.
Anwar leads Malaysia through crisis
Malaysia was not an unusual witness to this crisis. As a rustic that imports almost 70 percent of its oil from the Persian Gulf region, the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has hit its domestic economy hard. Food prices have risen, fertilizer supplies have been disrupted and pressure on national energy reserves is increasing.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim acted quickly. Through a series of talks with the leaders of Iran, Egypt, Turkey and other countries within the region, he obtained the approval of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to permit Malaysian ships to advance through – priority passage – through the Strait of Hormuz.
“We are in the process of securing the release of the Malaysian tankers and the workers involved so that they can continue their journey home,” Anwar announced in a nationally televised address on Thursday (March 26).
Anwar didn’t say what number of ships passed through successfully or what the precise clearance conditions were. However, he stressed that Malaysia, although affected by the situation, is in a comparatively higher position than many other countries because of the flexibility of Petronas – the state-owned oil and gas company – to take care of the soundness of the country’s energy supply.
In response to the emergency, the Malaysian government also announced several energy-saving measures: reducing the monthly cap on subsidized gasoline per person and steadily implementing a selective work-from-home system for civil servants.
After the attack, Thailand secures the crossing
Thailand’s experience was rather more dramatic. Two weeks before this breakthrough, a Thai-flagged cargo ship, Mayuree Nareewas hit by a missile fired by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) within the Strait of Hormuz.
The attack sparked a fireplace on board and compelled the evacuation of 20 of the 23 crew members to Oman, with the fate of the remaining three still unknown. The IRGC later claimed responsibility for the attack on two ships, including: Mayuree Nareeclaiming they “ignored warnings from IRGC naval forces.”
Amid rising tensions, the Thai government has not backed down. Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow summoned Iran’s ambassador to Thailand, Nassereddin Heidari, to demand a proof.
More importantly, Sihasak asked Iran directly to ensure the security of Thai ships that also needed to go through the strait.
“I asked if Thai ships must go through the strait to assist ensure protected passage? They replied that they’d care for it and asked us to offer the names of the ships that will transit,” he said.
The results at the moment are becoming visible. A tanker belonging to Bangchak Corporation that was stranded within the Persian Gulf on March 11 sailed successfully on March 23, 2026, without incurring any charges.
“The tanker is currently transiting the Indian Ocean and is expected to deliver crude oil to Thailand in early April,” the corporate said in a press release on March 24, as reported by the Bangkok Post.
According to the Iranian Embassy in Thailand, the success was described as the results of “close cooperation between our two countries and the Sultanate of Oman.” Additional coordination was carried out through the Thai Embassy in Muscat, working closely with the Omani authorities.
However, the situation stays unstable. Another ship belonging to SCG Chemicals continues to be awaiting transit clearance. Meanwhile, fuel prices in Thailand have increased by as much as 20 percent after the federal government reduced fuel subsidies, a direct consequence of the continued crisis.
Transit map: who passes, who’s blocked
The success of Malaysia and Thailand shouldn’t be an exclusive privilege. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has made it clear that the Strait of Hormuz shouldn’t be completely closed – it is just limited to Iran’s enemies and their allies.
“We are in a war situation. The region is a war zone. There isn’t any reason to permit the passage of ships of our enemies and their allies, but it surely is free for the remaining,” Araghchi said on Wednesday (March 25).
Countries specifically allowed passage after coordination with Tehran include China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Iraq and Bangladesh.
Shipping data from Kpler confirms this pattern: of the 99 ships that transited in March, a couple of third were linked to Iran, nine were owned by corporations based in China, and the ultimate destination of six was India.
In contrast, ships from the United States, Israel and several other Gulf states believed to be involved within the conflict are expressly prohibited from passing. In an official letter distributed to members of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) on March 22, Iran said that “non-hostile” ships could go through, subject to prior coordination with Iranian authorities.
A development price noting: Iran’s parliament is reportedly working on a bill that will impose a $2 million transit fee on ships in search of official passage. The regulation is anticipated to be finalized next week and formalize payments which have until now been handled informally through intermediaries.
With just 5-6 ships per day, well below the traditional variety of 138, and Brent crude oil prices briefly above $104 per barrel, the Strait of Hormuz isn’t any longer only a sea lane. It has develop into the world’s most volatile geopolitical flashpoint.
