Iran says only a limited number of ships may pass daily through the Strait of Hormuz

Iran has said that only a limited number of vessels will be allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz each day, adding a new restriction to the reopening of one of the world's most important energy chokepoints. The statement was reported on Tuesday by Iran's state news agency, citing a military official. It said the daily number would vary depending on conditions in the region.

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No figure was given for how many ships would be permitted to transit. The announcement comes after a peace agreement signed between the United States and Iran last week, which reopened the strait but did not mention any such quota. The new position introduces fresh uncertainty for shipping operators and energy markets that depend on the waterway.

The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow passage linking the Gulf to the Arabian Sea and is central to global oil and gas transport. Any limits on traffic through the route can affect tanker movements, insurance costs and the timing of deliveries. The latest statement also comes amid a dispute between Washington and Tehran over who will control the strait in the post-war period and whether fees may be charged.

On Monday, Donald Trump said the strait was "fully open". Iran has also threatened to close it again in response to Israeli attacks in Lebanon, according to the report. Trump said on Tuesday that he had agreed to lift the US Navy blockade at the entrance to the strait only after Iranian negotiators accepted nuclear inspections.

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He said the decision was based on those and other major concessions from Iran. The new restriction appears to sit alongside, rather than replace, the broader reopening agreed in the peace deal. That makes the practical rules for passage less clear, especially for commercial shipping and states that rely on uninterrupted transit.

The statement also suggests that access may now be tied to regional conditions and to wider political bargaining between the two sides. What remains unclear is how the quota will be enforced, how many ships will be allowed through each day, and whether the arrangement will change again if tensions rise. It is also not clear how shipping companies will be informed of the daily limits or what role, if any, international monitors will play.

The next developments to watch are any formal clarification from Tehran, any response from Washington, and whether traffic through the strait is disrupted.

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