BANGKOK – Thailand secured an agreement with Iran on March 28 allowing its oil tankers safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced, offering relief amid war-induced shipping snarls and fuel shortages gripping Southeast Asia.
Iranian forces have throttled traffic through the vital waterway since late February’s Middle East conflict erupted, slashing commodities shipments by 95 percent from March 1 to 26, per maritime tracker Kpler. Over 80 percent of the crude oil and LNG transiting Hormuz supplies Asia, fueling long petrol queues in Thailand and supply woes across the region.
“An agreement has been reached to allow Thai oil tankers to transit safely,” Anutin said at a press conference. “This boosts confidence against disruptions like those in early March,” when a Thai bulk carrier was attacked, leaving three crew missing.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards escalated tensions on March 27 by repelling three ships bound for “enemy-linked” ports and declaring the route off-limits. UKMTO reports 24 commercial vessels, including 11 tankers, hit or incident-prone in the Gulf, Hormuz, or Gulf of Oman this month alone.
The government pledged adaptive measures to shield citizens. “We’ll keep adjusting to minimize public impact,” Anutin added, as the deal mirrors similar pacts easing passage for nations like Indonesia.