[ad_1]
British motorists face sustained high fuel prices as Iran has restricted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz to just 15 ships a day, sharply limiting the flow of global oil supplies.
The narrow waterway, which carries roughly a fifth of the world’s oil, would typically see more than 100 vessels pass through daily. The current cap, introduced amid the fragile ceasefire, represents only a partial reopening and leaves energy markets operating far below normal capacity.
Russian state media reported a senior Iranian source said: “Under the current ceasefire, fewer than 15 ships per day are permitted to transit the Strait of Hormuz.
“This movement is strictly contingent upon Iran’s approval and the enforcement of a specific protocol.
“This new regulatory framework, operating under the supervision of the IRGC, has been officially communicated to regional parties.
“There will be no return to the pre-war status quo.”
The source added: “The unfreezing of Iran’s blocked assets is a critical executive guarantee that must be realised within this two-week timeframe.
Oil prices, which surged during the conflict, are expected to remain elevated and volatile as traders factor in ongoing disruptions and uncertainty about future flows. Even as prices have dipped in recent days, analysts warn that shipping constraints will keep a firm floor under crude.
For UK drivers, the impact is immediate. Pump prices, already inflated by weeks of conflict, are likely to remain stubbornly high as retailers pass on the cost of more expensive crude and increased shipping and insurance premiums. Industry figures say a “war premium” is now embedded in fuel costs, reflecting the ongoing risk to supplies.
The situation is compounded by delays across global shipping networks, with tankers still hesitant to transit the region despite the limited reopening. Insurers and operators remain wary of renewed disruption, meaning flows are unlikely to return to normal quickly.
Even if tensions ease, analysts caution that any fall in fuel prices will lag behind movements in oil markets, leaving motorists paying over the odds well into the summer.
The Strait of Hormuz remains the critical pressure point. Until traffic is fully restored, the global oil market — and UK drivers — will continue to feel the strain.
[ad_2]
Source link
