BANGKOK: Thailand has reached an agreement with Iran to allow Thai oil vessels safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Saturday. The deal is expected to ease concerns over fuel imports amid regional tensions.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has been severely disrupted since the Middle East war began late last month, with Iranian forces slowing traffic to a trickle. “With this agreement in place, there is greater confidence that disruptions like those seen in early March will not recur,” the Prime Minister added.
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical route, with more than 80 percent of crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) heading to Asia, according to the US Energy Information Administration. Southeast Asian countries, including Thailand, have faced fuel shortages, with long lines at petrol stations becoming increasingly common.
Anutin said the Thai government would continue to adapt to the evolving situation and implement measures to minimize the impact on the public. Earlier this month, a Thai bulk carrier in the waterway was attacked, leaving three crew members missing.
According to maritime tracking platform Kpler, shipping through the Strait of Hormuz dropped 95 percent between March 1 and March 26 following the outbreak of the war. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards also reported turning back three ships attempting to transit the strait, warning that vessels traveling to or from ports linked to its “enemies” were prohibited.
This month, 24 commercial vessels—including 11 oil tankers—have been attacked or reported incidents in the Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, or the Gulf of Oman, according to the British naval maritime security agency UKMTO.