Iran has blocked the Strait of Hormuz for several weeks, and industry sources say no LNG ships have departed with cargo so far.

According to traders involved in related shipping transactions, since the outbreak of hostilities a few weeks ago, Iran has not allowed any LNG (liquefied natural gas) carrier to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, and this ban could exacerbate global supply shortages.

On Monday, two Qatar LNG tankers appeared to be preparing to leave the Persian Gulf, but turned back hours later. Traders said these ships were not granted passage by Iranian officials. Due to lack of authorization to speak to the media, traders declined to be named.

This sudden turnaround highlights that the Strait of Hormuz has apparently been blockaded since the U.S. and Israel launched airstrikes against Iran in late February. Since then, the flow of ships through the strait has significantly decreased, but some tankers and other vessels still pass sporadically, usually with Iranian permission — while about one-fifth of global LNG supplies remain cut off.

Since the outbreak of the war, LNG carriers have been stranded in the Persian Gulf for over a month.

Sources familiar with the matter said that currently, fully loaded LNG carriers are scattered across the Persian Gulf, either because they have not yet engaged in negotiations with Iran regarding passage or because they have not been approved. Ship tracking data shows more than a dozen LNG carriers are stranded in the region.

It is also possible that some ships have evaded detection by turning off their transponders or that signal interference has led to inaccurate tracking. However, both traders and ship tracking data indicate that earlier this month, only one LNG carrier had exited the Strait of Hormuz — but it was not carrying cargo.