The chief executive of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), Sultan Al Jaber, has warned that the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed despite the recent ceasefire between the United States and Iran, with restrictions continuing to disrupt global energy flows.
In a statement shared on LinkedIn on Thursday, Al Jaber said access to the critical waterway is still being tightly controlled, preventing normal shipping operations from resuming. He stressed that the current arrangements fall short of what is required to restore confidence in global markets.
“Conditional passage is not passage,” he said, insisting that the strait must be reopened “fully, unconditionally and without restriction.”
According to the ADNOC chief, around 230 oil vessels are currently loaded and waiting to sail, unable to proceed due to ongoing limitations in the waterway. He added that ADNOC has already prepared cargoes for export and is working to increase production, though operations remain constrained by war-related damage to infrastructure and the need to ensure staff safety.
Al Jaber warned that global energy markets are approaching a critical moment, as the effects of disrupted supply chains begin to materialize.
“Markets remain at a critical crossroads,” he said. “The final cargoes that transited the Strait of Hormuz before the conflict are now arriving at their destinations. This is where the paper traded markets are meeting physical reality, and the 40-day gap in global energy flows is truly exposed.”
His comments highlight growing concerns among industry leaders that the ceasefire has not yet translated into meaningful improvements in shipping conditions, particularly in one of the world’s most important النفط corridors.
Iranian authorities, for their part, have introduced alternative routes for vessels transiting the strait. Officials say the measures are intended to reduce the risk of collisions and improve safety, amid concerns that sea mines may be present in the main shipping lanes. Iranian media reports indicate that ships are now required to use designated corridors when entering or exiting the waterway.
Despite these reassurances, international shipping firms have remained cautious, with many operators reluctant to resume full operations until clearer guarantees of safety and unrestricted access are in place. The uncertainty has continued to weigh on global energy markets, particularly as supply bottlenecks persist.
Before the outbreak of the conflict, the Strait of Hormuz handled roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas shipments, making it one of the most strategically important maritime routes globally. Any prolonged disruption to traffic through the strait poses significant risks to energy supply chains and price stability.
Al Jaber noted that the impact is especially significant for Asia, which receives a large share of energy exports passing through the corridor. With hundreds of vessels delayed and normal shipping patterns yet to resume, analysts warn that the situation could lead to tighter supplies and increased volatility in global markets.
The developments come just days after Washington and Tehran agreed to a two-week truce aimed at creating conditions for broader negotiations. However, the continued restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz suggest that restoring normal economic activity may take longer than expected, even if hostilities remain paused.
As the situation evolves, industry leaders and governments alike are closely monitoring whether the ceasefire will lead to a full reopening of the vital shipping lane, or whether ongoing security concerns will continue to disrupt one of the world’s most critical energy lifelines.
