Qatar restores shipping after Hormuz Strait crisis
Photo: Qatar resumes shipping traffic in its waters following the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz (Getty Images)
Starting Sunday, April 12, traffic for all maritime vessels in Qatar’s territorial waters will be fully restored following the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, according to Qatar’s Ministry of Transport.
The ministry specified that navigation will be allowed from 6 am to 6 pm local time.
Vessels licensed for fishing are allowed to operate throughout the entire day.
Qatari tankers had not passed through the Strait of Hormuz for more than a month due to its de facto closure amid hostilities in Iran.
Unblocking of the Strait of Hormuz
On Saturday, April 11, US President Donald Trump stated that Washington is beginning the process of demining the Strait of Hormuz.
At the same time, the media reported that several US Navy ships passed through the strait and then returned. Shortly afterward, US Central Command confirmed that two American destroyers had passed through the Strait of Hormuz for demining purposes.
After the start of the ceasefire, Iran opened the strait, but almost immediately closed it again. Tehran cited the Israeli bombing of Lebanon as the reason for this decision.
However, reports also emerged in the media suggesting that Iran is simply unable to locate and neutralize its own mines.
