By Selcan Hacaoglu and Firat Kozok
On April 1, 2026, Turkey’s transportation minister, Abdulkadir Uraloglu, announced that the country is actively seeking Iranian permission for 11 Turkish-owned ships to navigate through the vital Strait of Hormuz. Currently, 14 Turkish vessels are situated in the strait, with three engaged in essential operations, including power generation, and not requesting to depart.
Uraloglu stated that negotiations are ongoing concerning the remaining ships, with Turkish authorities maintaining regular communication with their crews. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical waterway, responsible for approximately 20% of the global oil and gas supply. However, Iran has effectively blocked access since conflict erupted on February 28, disrupting not only oil routes but also the transportation of various goods like fertilizers and metals.
Since the outbreak of hostilities, only one Turkish-owned vessel has been granted passage, attributed to its use of an Iranian port. Simultaneously, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan emphasized the potential escalation of the conflict into a regional crisis, exacerbated by increasing retaliatory strikes against energy and transport infrastructures. Amid these tensions, Brent crude prices have surged roughly 42%, reflecting the volatile situation, though they dipped slightly on Wednesday after indications from President Donald Trump about a possible U.S. withdrawal from the conflict.
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