In this picture obtained from Iran's ISNA news agency on May 4, 2026, vessels are pictured anchored in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas in southern Iran. Iran's Revolutionary Guards on May 4 denied that any commercial ships had crossed the Strait of Hormuz, after the US military earlier said two US-flagged merchant vessels had transited through the vital waterway.
(Photo by Amirhossein KHORGOOEI / ISNA / AFP) / Two commercial vessels have successfully passed through the Strait of Hormuz despite ongoing tensions in the Gulf, as Iran submitted its response to a United States proposal aimed at ending the war and reopening peace talks.
Iranian state media reported on Sunday that Tehran’s response was transmitted through Pakistan, which has been mediating between both sides. According to Iranian state television, the response focused on ending hostilities “on all fronts”, particularly in Lebanon, and guaranteeing the safety of maritime traffic through the strategic waterway.
The report, however, did not specify when or how the strait would fully reopen to international shipping. The development came after Washington proposed halting the fighting before broader negotiations on contentious issues, including Iran’s nuclear programme. Reuters reports that there was no immediate reaction from the United States government.
The Strait of Hormuz, which previously handled about one-fifth of global oil supplies, has remained one of the most volatile flashpoints in the conflict, with Tehran restricting non-Iranian vessels from transiting the route. Despite the tension, it was reported that the QatarEnergy-operated liquefied natural gas carrier, Al Kharaitiyat, safely crossed the strait and headed for Pakistan’s Port Qasim, according to shipping analytics firm Kpler.
The vessel became the first Qatari LNG carrier to transit the strait since the outbreak of the US-Israeli war with Iran on February 28. Sources familiar with the arrangement said Iran approved the shipment to help ease Pakistan’s worsening electricity shortages caused by disrupted gas imports and to build confidence with both Qatar and Pakistan, which have been involved in mediation efforts.
Also on Sunday, Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that a Panama-flagged bulk carrier bound for Brazil passed through the strait using a designated route approved by Iranian armed forces after an earlier failed attempt on May 4. The passage of the vessels came amid continuing regional security threats.
Meanwhile, as tensions persist around the strategic waterway, Britain announced that it was deploying HMS Dragon, one of the Royal Navy’s six Type 45 destroyers, to the Middle East ahead of a possible multinational mission to protect shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
Related News Navy commodore visits Oba of Lagos ahead of 70th anniversary Russia renews demands for ending Ukraine war Trump vows to push Xi to open up China at superpower summit According to the UK Ministry of Defence, the warship would “pre-position” in the region for a “potential role” in a future “strictly defensive and independent” operation.
BBC reports that British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who is championing the proposed mission alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, said the operation would only proceed after active fighting in the region ends. The deployment comes after months of disruption in the strait, which Iran has been controlling in retaliation for attacks by the US and Israel.