LONDON — The Strait of Hormuz is carrying more traffic after the United States reduced Iran’s leverage over the waterway, but a new Associated Press assessment warns that the change has not ended the war or removed the danger to global energy supplies. Fighting continues, Iran’s own exports have been squeezed and the diplomatic route out of the conflict remains uncertain.

The strategic reversal is straightforward to describe. AP reported that Iran effectively closed the strait in the opening days of the war, using the shock to shipping and energy markets as leverage. In recent weeks, the agency said, a US blockade has sharply constrained Iranian oil exports while US military activity has helped Gulf producers move more oil through alternative routes and the strait. That is a description of movement and export patterns, not proof that the route is safe for every ship.

The International Maritime Organization continues to maintain a dedicated information page for the regional maritime situation, including official statements, contacts and incident updates. For crews and insurers, the practical question is not only whether a tanker can pass, but what warnings, escorts, premiums and delays attach to the passage. Those costs can persist even when a headline says the waterway is open.

The wider economic pressure is already visible. AP reported Brent crude above $100 a barrel and higher US fuel prices, while noting that the war has not produced the political concessions Washington sought. The same report said Iran has shown no clear sign of backing down and could choose escalation if its leaders believe they are being cornered.

The careful conclusion is narrower than either triumphal or catastrophic claims. Shipping has begun moving through a route that had become a pressure point; the conflict that made the route dangerous is still active. Until there is a durable diplomatic settlement and a verifiable reduction in military risk, the strait remains a global economic vulnerability rather than a resolved crisis.

*Reporting note: this article is based on the source record listed above and is current as of 11 September 2026. Figures and operational claims remain attributed where official or first-day reports can change.*