The weekend peace talks between the United States and Iran have concluded without an agreement. The two‑week ceasefire set to expire on April 22 and there have been no indications that negotiations will resume. In the latest development, as reported by splash247, the United States has moved to block ships from entering or exiting Iranian ports.

Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remained severely constrained throughout the truce, even before the peace talks took place. An advisory note from the Joint Maritime Information Center confirmed there had been “no meaningful increase in traffic” during the ceasefire period. As reported by splash247, vessel transits had required coordination with Iran’s armed forces, severely restricting passage.

Safety concerns have continued to dominate carrier decision‑making after Iranian authorities warned of the risk of sea mines along the usual shipping routes. Major liner operators, including Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd, remain focused on helping vessels trapped inside the Persian Gulf. As reported by The American Journal of Transportation, an estimated 2,000 vessels and 20,000 seafarers remain stranded.  

In a press release, Xeneta highlighted that carriers have taken “a cautious approach to the ceasefire”. Chief Analyst, Peter Sand, described the truce as a brief reprieve. He said a rapid return to normal shipping operations in the Middle East is unlikely and that carriers are aware of the risk that vessels could again become trapped in the Persian Gulf should hostilities resume.

Sand added: “The conflict has displaced 250,000 TEU of weekly container shipping capacity and carriers have put a lot of effort and expense into establishing alternative routings to allow goods to flow into the region. You do not suddenly toss that out of the window because there is a two-week ceasefire.”

Echoing this cautious outlook, multiple news outlets reported that Hapag-Lloyd warned it may need up to eight weeks to restore normal shipping operations.

Earlier, Iranian officials proposed imposing tolls to use the Strait of Hormuz. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) warned this move would set a “dangerous precedent” and limit the freedom of navigation under international law.

Source: splash247, American Shipper, American Journal of Transportation, Xeneta