President Donald Trump said on Sunday, March 29, 2026, that Iran had agreed to let 20 additional cargo ships carrying oil transit the Strait of Hormuz beginning Monday, March 30, calling the move "a sign of respect." Pakistan’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister, Ishaq Dar, posted on X that Tehran had signed off on 20 Pakistan flagged vessels passing through the strait, two per day. The announcement follows weeks of strikes and near shutdowns that have choked commerce through the critical Gulf chokepoint.
I am pleased to share a great news that the Government of Iran has agreed to allow 20 more ships under the Pakistani flag to pass through the Strait of Hormuz; two ships will cross the Strait daily. This is a welcome and constructive gesture by Iran and deserves appreciation. It is a harbinger of peace and will help usher stability in the region. March 28, 2026
— Ishaq Dar (@MIshaqDar50) March 28, 2026
Trump Sells The Hormuz Move As A Win
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Mr. Trump said Iran had already allowed about 10 ships to pass in recent days and was now agreeing to "20 more," according to The New York Times. He cast the decision as evidence that negotiations were moving in the right direction, while offering few specifics on what exactly had been agreed behind the scenes.
Pakistan Steps In As Diplomatic Middleman
Pakistan’s foreign minister, Ishaq Dar, used X to confirm that Iran had agreed to clear 20 Pakistan flagged vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, at a rate of two per day, a statement reported by local outlet Dunya News. Pakistani officials have presented the arrangement as a confidence building step tied to talks in Islamabad that are aimed at dialing down regional tensions rather than throwing the doors fully open.
Ships Get Case By Case Green Lights, Not A Free For All
Independent ship tracking data and regional coverage indicate Tehran has been allowing tightly controlled, permission based transits instead of a full reopening of Hormuz. Roughly 10 commercial vessels have moved in recent days under such tailored arrangements, Al Jazeera reported. Analysts caution that because Iran is effectively choosing who sails and who waits, any opening is fragile and can be reversed quickly if talks sour.
U.S. Muscle In The Background
The diplomatic sliver of progress is arriving as Washington moves more hardware and personnel into the neighborhood. Thousands of marines, sailors and special operations forces have been sent to the region, part of a buildup described by The Associated Press. That military pressure has been paired with strikes on Iranian energy targets intended to reduce Tehran’s ability to interfere with shipping through the strait.
Markets Still On Edge Despite Ship Deal
The possibility of more tankers squeezing through Hormuz has provided only limited comfort to nervous traders. Brent crude has been trading above 115 dollars a barrel during the conflict, and United States equity futures slipped as investors weighed the lingering risk, figures tracked by The New York Times showed. Market participants say insurance costs and extra risk premiums for Gulf voyages are unlikely to fall much just because a handful of ships get clearance.
Whether Those 20 Ships Actually Move Is The Real Test
Apart from Pakistan’s announcement, there is still limited independent confirmation of the full scope, cargo types and precise timing of the 20 ship plan. Ship tracking services, port authorities and follow up diplomatic readouts will be key to verifying whether the promised oil shipments actually move, something Al Jazeera and maritime trackers have flagged. If the transits proceed as advertised, analysts say the deal would amount to a narrow, carefully managed opening rather than a durable end to the disruptions that have rattled global energy markets.
