Nearly a month after the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran, the Strait of Hormuz has turned into a deadly corridor that is crippling the global energy supply chain. Of the 138 vessels that normally pass through each day, only 5–6 now manage to cross these waters.
Amid the blockade, Malaysia and Thailand have emerged as the Southeast Asian countries to break through.
Anwar Navigates Malaysia Through Crisis
Malaysia has not been a mere bystander in this crisis. As a country that imports nearly 70 percent of its crude oil from the Gulf region, the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has hit its domestic economy hard. Food prices have risen, fertilizer supplies have been disrupted, and pressure on national energy reserves is intensifying.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim moved quickly. Through a series of talks with leaders from Iran, Egypt, Turkey, and other regional countries, he secured approval from Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian for Malaysian vessels to receive early clearance—priority passage—through the Strait of Hormuz.
“We are in the process of securing the release of the Malaysian oil tankers and the workers involved so they can continue their journey home,” Anwar said in a televised national address on Thursday (March 26).
Anwar did not specify how many vessels have successfully passed or the exact terms of the clearance. However, he stressed that Malaysia, while affected, is in a relatively better position than many others, thanks to the capacity of Petronas—the state-owned oil and gas company—to maintain the stability of national energy supplies.
In response to the emergency, the Malaysian government has also announced several energy-saving measures: reducing the monthly quota of subsidized gasoline per individual, and gradually implementing a selective work-from-home system for civil servants.
After Attack, Thailand Secures Passage
Thailand’s experience has been far more dramatic. Two weeks before this breakthrough, a Thai-flagged cargo vessel, Mayuree Naree, was struck by a projectile launched by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in the Strait of Hormuz.
The attack sparked a fire onboard and forced the evacuation of 20 out of 23 crew members to Oman, while the fate of the remaining three is still unknown. The IRGC later admitted responsibility for attacking two vessels, including Mayuree Naree, claiming they had “ignored the warnings of IRGC naval forces.”
Amid rising tensions, the Thai government did not back down. Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow summoned Iran’s Ambassador to Thailand, Nassereddin Heidari, to demand clarification.
More importantly, Sihasak made a direct request to Iran: to guarantee the safety of Thai vessels that still needed to pass through the strait.
“I requested that if Thai ships need to pass through the strait, could they assist in ensuring safe passage? They responded that they would take care of it and asked us to provide the names of the vessels that would be transiting,” he said.
The results are now becoming visible. A tanker operated by Bangchak Corporation, which had been stranded in the Persian Gulf since March 11, successfully transited on March 23, 2026, without incurring any fees.
“The tanker is currently on its way across the Indian Ocean and is expected to deliver crude oil to Thailand in early April,” the company said in a statement on March 24, as reported by Bangkok Post.
This success was described as the result of “close cooperation between our two countries and the Sultanate of Oman,” according to the Iranian Embassy in Thailand. Additional coordination was carried out through Thailand’s embassy in Muscat, working closely with Omani authorities.
However, the situation remains fragile. Another vessel owned by SCG Chemicals is still awaiting transit clearance. Meanwhile, fuel prices in Thailand have surged by up to 20 percent after the government reduced fuel subsidies, a direct consequence of the ongoing crisis.
Transit Map: Who Gets Through, Who Is Blocked
The success of Malaysia and Thailand is not an exclusive privilege. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi made it clear that the Strait of Hormuz is not fully closed—only restricted to Iran’s enemies and their allies.
“We are in a wartime situation; the region is a war zone. There is no reason to allow the ships of our enemies and their allies to pass, but it is free for the rest,” Araghchi said on Wednesday (March 25).
Countries explicitly allowed to pass, after coordinating with Tehran, include China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Iraq, and Bangladesh.
Shipping data from Kpler supports this pattern: of the 99 vessels that transited throughout March, about one-third were linked to Iran, nine were owned by companies based in China, and six had India as their final destination.
In contrast, vessels from the United States, Israel, and several Gulf states considered involved in the conflict are explicitly barred from passing. In an official letter circulated to members of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) dated March 22, Iran stated that “non-hostile” vessels may transit, provided they coordinate in advance with Iranian authorities.
One development to watch: Iran’s parliament is reportedly drafting a law that would impose a transit fee of US$2 million on vessels seeking official passage. The regulation is expected to be finalized next week, formalizing payments that have so far been handled informally through intermediaries.
With only 5–6 ships passing per day, far below the normal 138, and Brent crude prices briefly exceeding US$104 per barrel, the Strait of Hormuz is no longer just a maritime route. It has become the world’s most volatile geopolitical flashpoint.
