A container ship operated by French shipping giant CMA CGM has successfully transited the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, marking the first known passage by a Western-linked vessel since Iran effectively restricted access to the waterway.
According to maritime tracking data, the Malta-flagged vessel Kribi crossed the strait on April 2, becoming the first French-owned ship to do so since the outbreak of the US-Israeli conflict with Iran on February 28. The ship is currently sailing south along the coast of Oman.
It remains unclear how the vessel secured safe passage through the highly sensitive corridor. There has been no immediate comment from CMA CGM regarding the transit. according to AFP, AP and Reuters.
Shipping data from London Stock Exchange Group indicates that the vessel altered its listed destination to “Owner France” prior to entering Iranian territorial waters—an apparent signal of its ownership to authorities in Tehran. The ship had originally been bound for Pointe-Noire in the Republic of the Congo.
Traffic through the strait has dropped sharply since early March. Data from Lloyd’s List Intelligence shows that only around 150 vessels have passed through the waterway since March 1, most of them linked to Iran or countries such as China, India, and Pakistan. Beijing recently expressed appreciation after several Chinese vessels, including ships operated by COSCO, successfully made the passage.
Before the conflict, the Strait of Hormuz handled roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments. Its disruption has triggered a sharp rise in global fuel prices, intensifying concerns over a widening energy crisis.
Speaking on Wednesday, Donald Trump said fuel prices would decline rapidly once the conflict ends, though he did not outline a plan to reopen the waterway. He also suggested that US allies could take the lead in restoring maritime access.
Meanwhile, Emmanuel Macron cautioned that a military solution to reopen the strait would be unrealistic, emphasizing that diplomacy remains the only viable path. He added that France is working with European and international partners to form a coalition aimed at ensuring safe navigation once hostilities subside.
In a separate development, former Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, writing in the journal Foreign Affairs, suggested that Tehran could end the conflict through a negotiated agreement with the United States.
He proposed curbing Iran’s nuclear program and reopening the strait in exchange for sanctions relief, describing it as a potential pathway to both conclude the current crisis and prevent future escalation.
