Iran appears to have established its own controlled shipping corridor in the Strait of Hormuz, effectively reshaping navigation through one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints.
According to multiple shipping data sources and industry reports, vessel traffic is now being funneled through a narrow, approximately five-mile-wide channel between the islands of Qeshm and Larak. The route lies entirely within waters where ships are fully exposed to Iranian monitoring and control.
AIS tracking data show that a number of outbound vessels have already transited this corridor, suggesting that the system is operational despite the absence of any formal public announcement.
Reports indicate that passage through the corridor is strictly regulated. Ships must undergo advance clearance procedures, including the submission of detailed documentation to Iranian authorities.
Transit is conducted under close visual inspection, and movements appear to be coordinated at the state-to-state level, with only a limited number of vessels allowed to pass at a time. According to Lloyd’s List, in at least one reported case, a shipowner allegedly paid $2 million to secure permission for transit, pointing to the emergence of a controlled and potentially monetized access regime.
The creation of the corridor may be tied to reported Iranian mine-laying activities in the strait. Naval mines may have been deployed to restrict access across wider areas, effectively forcing vessels into the designated passage.
If confirmed, this would indicate a deliberate strategy to close off most of the strait while maintaining a single, controlled shipping lane.
