Energy buyers seek permission for passage through the Strait of Hormuz: Some countries have been in contact with Iran, and an Indian oil tanker was granted passage last weekend.

Iran is making full use of its geographical advantage in the Hormuz Strait, forcing energy buyers to negotiate for safe passage and forcing the United States to seek help from other countries to ensure the strait reopens - even in the best case scenario, it could take weeks. As the war enters its third week, this waterway has become the focus of attention for all parties. Iran's attacks on the strait are disrupting energy trade in response to US and Israeli airstrikes; meanwhile, U.S. President Trump is seeking to calm the soaring oil prices, which have recently risen by as much as 45%. Last week, three ships were attacked in the Persian Gulf in one day, including a Thai bulk carrier attacked in the strait, which heightened concerns among ship owners. Rahul Kapoor, global head of energy shipping and metals business at S&P Global, said that the port of Hormuz "is at the center of global geopolitics," and signals from shipping and energy markets indicate that the risk of a long-term interruption is undoubtedly much higher than at any time in the past few decades. This prospect is prompting major Asian consumer countries to seek alternative ways to alleviate shortages and price spikes. India has obtained permission from the Iranian government to allow two liquefied petroleum gas tankers to pass through the Hormuz Strait last weekend - a small step in easing severe fuel shortages, but significant. Both tankers used signaling systems to indicate that they were carrying cargo for the Indian government. Turkey reportedly received approval last week. A Pakistani ship has also passed through the strait. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said over the weekend that some countries have contacted Tehran seeking safe passage and added that the Hormuz Strait is currently closed only to ships from "hostile countries." He did not name any specific countries. In his first statement last week, Iran's new supreme leader, Ebrahim Raisi, said he would continue to use "closing the Hormuz Strait as a tool." In the past two weeks, only a few ships have passed through this waterway - almost all of them Iranian or Chinese ships. According to a source familiar with India-related arrangements, even India's agreement is one-way, meaning that ships will not return loaded with cargo. Trump has proposed the idea of deploying naval escorts, and over the weekend, increased pressure on other countries, hoping that France, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom would send ships to assist in clearing the waterway. So far, these countries have not committed to providing any assistance. Jennifer Parker, adjunct professor at the University of Western Australia's Defense and Security Research Institute, said, "The question is how much risk you can afford. If Trump directs the US Navy to do this tomorrow, they will do it, but it comes with a lot of risks. The top priority is to weaken Iran's ability to attack ships by destroying Iran's command and control capabilities, rather than escorting ships." The Hormuz Strait is only 30 miles wide at its narrowest point. Considering navigable channels, this means that ships' maneuvering space and ability to respond to attacks are significantly reduced. These attacks include potential attacks by Iranian missiles, unmanned surface vessels, and drones - Iran has recently deployed these tools to attack ships. Britain said last week that Iran may have begun laying mines in the Hormuz Strait. Therefore, the prospect of forming a broad escort alliance like the one in the Red Sea to fend off Houthi attacks seems unlikely. Some countries are trying to figure out the specific form of any escort operation. Japan and South Korea are facing increasing pressure due to their military alliances with Washington and dependency on Middle East oil, requiring them to support the United States. On Monday, Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio said Japan is considering how to protect Japanese ships, but Defense Minister Kono Taro said Tokyo is not considering sending naval ships. Due to Japan's constitution banning the deployment of troops in conflict zones, Tokyo is restricted in this regard. The South Korean Defense Ministry said that South Korea is reviewing Trump's request and will closely coordinate with the United States on this matter. Both South Korea and Japan have stated that the United States has not officially requested to send ships to the Middle East. Even if diplomatic or military solutions are found, restoring traffic in the strait could take weeks. "At least two or three dozen ships need to pass through every day for us to see signs of traffic restoration," Kapoor added. "It will take weeks to clear the congestion on both sides of the strait." The special secretary of the Indian Ministry of Shipping said at a press conference last Saturday that India has 22 ships flying the Indian flag west of the Hormuz Strait, carrying 611 crew members, and the government is closely monitoring their situation. He also added that these ships include tankers carrying liquefied petroleum gas, crude oil, liquefied natural gas, and container ships. Vandana Hari, founder of Vanda Insights, said, "India must negotiate with Tehran for the safe passage of these ships - there is no alternative. This is not about politics, nor about taking sides in the war. It is only about the safety of people's lives and the energy security of the country." Two Indian liquefied petroleum gas tankers that left the port of Hormuz on Saturday carried over 92,000 tons of liquefied petroleum gas - barely enough to meet the country's demand for a day.