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State media: Iran's military spokesperson claims that the US is negotiating only with itself

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 25, 2026

According to state media, an 'Iranian' military spokesman stated that the United States was negotiating with itself on a Wednesday, just a day after Donald Trump, U.S. president, said Tehran wanted to reach a deal in order to end the conflict in 'the Middle East.

FT reports that Iran has said 'non hostile' ships are allowed to transit the Strait of Hormuz.

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 24, 2026

The Financial Times reported that Iran had told member states of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) that "non-hostile" vessels could transit the Strait of Hormuz as long as they coordinated with Iranian authorities. The U.S. and Israeli…

Algeria announces tender for wheat purchase, traders claim

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 24, 2026

?European Traders reported on Tuesday that Algeria's state grain agency OAIC had issued an international?"tender" to?buy flour milling. The tender stipulated shipment in two periods: June 1-15, and June 16-30. The traders stated that if the wheat is from South America…

Data shows that Saudi Arabia is increasing Yanbu crude oil production to circumvent the Hormuz blockade.

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 24, 2026

Shipping data show that Saudi Arabia's Red Sea Yanbu port exported nearly 4 million barrels of crude oil per day in the past week. This is a significant increase over exports before the Iran War broke out. Saudi Aramco is working on a plan that…

Sources: India's Reliance purchases 5 million barrels Iranian oil after US waiver

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 24, 2026

Reliance Industries in India, the operator of the largest refining facility in the world, has purchased 5,000,000 barrels of Iranian oil days after the U.S. lifted temporary sanctions on the oil. Two sources confirmed that the Indian refiner purchased the oil from National Iranian Oil Co.

Iranian man released following alleged attempt to enter UK sub base

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 23, 2026

A man arrested in Scotland last week on suspicion of trying to enter Britain's nuclear sub base has been released pending further investigations, Scottish prosecutors announced Monday. A 34-year old man and a 31 year-old Romanian woman were…

UK looks at expanding its regulatory powers to combat energy price gouging and profiteering

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 23, 2026

Keir Starmer, Britain's Prime Minister, said on Monday that his government may re-examine the powers of the Competition Regulator to combat price gouging in the energy market. Starmer, a member of a parliamentary committee, said: "We are looking at ways to combat 'profiteering.

Starmer: UK must prepare for a prolonged Middle East conflict

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 23, 2026

Keir Starmer, British Prime Minister, said on Monday that Britain must prepare for the possibility that a war with Iran could last for some time. He added that there were no "meaningful" concerns about energy supply. Starmer said that the emergency…

As ships reroute to the Cape, African bunkering hubs benefit

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 23, 2026

The number of ships diverting around the Cape of Good Hope is increasing, as the Middle East war has reshaped global shipping routes. This boosts the role of Africa as a hub for bunkering. Since late 2023 when Houthi attacks against Red?Sea?shipping?began…

Treasury's Bessent: US has "plenty" of funds to wage war on Iran

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 23, 2026

The?U.S. The?U.S. Bessent also ruled out any calls for tax increases in the "Meet the Press'" program on NBC News. Congress is sceptical about the U.S. government's request to spend $200 billion more on the Iran war after spending large amounts of money for defense last year.

Daily Mail reports that a UK nuclear-powered sub is positioned in the Arabian Sea amid tensions between regional countries.

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 23, 2026

The Daily Mail reported that a British nuclear-powered submarine equipped with Tomahawk Cruise Missiles has taken up position in the Arabian Sea, giving Britain the ability to launch long-range attacks if the regional conflict escalates. Could not immediately verify the information.

Iran opens the Hormuz Strait to all ships except those with a 'traitorous' connection

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 23, 2026

Iranian media reported that the Strait of Hormuz remains open to all ships except those linked to "Iran's enemy", according to reports published on Sunday. Ali Mousavi made his comments in an interview with Xinhua on Friday, just before U.S.

Iran is ready to work with IMO for Gulf maritime security, IMO representative states

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 23, 2026

The Iranian representative at the U.N. maritime agency, reported the semi-official Mehr News Agency on Sunday, said that Iran is ready to "cooperate" with the International Marine Organization to "improve?"maritime safety 'and protect seafarers within the Gulf.

Japan not planning Hormuz escort mission, PM Takaichi says

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 16, 2026

Sanae Takaichi, the Prime Minister of Japan, said on Monday that Japan has no plans to send naval vessels to escort vessels around the Middle East. Donald Trump has called on allies in the Middle East to help protect tankers that are traversing the Strait of Hormuz.

Takaichi, the PM of Japan, says that Japan has not yet planned an escort mission to Hormuz.

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 15, 2026

Sanae Takaichi, Japan's Prime Minister, said that the country does not plan to send naval vessels to escort ships in a?Middle East? after Donald Trump asked allies to escort oil tankers through Strait of Hormuz. "We have not taken any decision about dispatching escort vessels." Takaichi…

Australia won't send naval ships to help open Strait of Hormuz

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 15, 2026

A government minister?said?Monday that Australia would not send naval vessels to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. "We will not be sending a vessel to the Strait of Hormuz." Catherine King, who is a cabinet member for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese…

Official from India says that a fuel tanker with Indian flag bound for Africa has set sail east of Hormuz.

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 13, 2026

An Indian government official announced on Friday that the Indian flagged 'oil tanker Jag Prakash is now sailing from the east of the Strait of Hormuz. It will be delivering gasoline from Oman into Africa. Gulf shipping has been disrupted for the last two weeks, as Iran retaliates against the U.S.

US eases sanctions on Russia to calm price spike, angering European allies

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 13, 2026

The United States granted a 30-day waiver to countries that want to purchase Russian oil or?petroleum stranded on the sea. This drew criticism from Germany and its allies in Europe, but was welcomed by Moscow. The U.S. Treasury secretary Scott?Bessent…

Sources in the Iranian embassy and Sri Lankan media claim that bodies of 84 Iranian sailors will be returned to Iran from Sri Lanka.

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 13, 2026

Sources in the Iranian Embassy in Colombo, as well as Sri Lankan media, reported that Friday. The bodies of the 84 Iranian sailors who were killed by a U.S. sub attack on a warship near?Sri Lankan coast last week would be repatriated. The U.S.

Minister says Turkish ship can pass through Strait of Hormuz

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 13, 2026

Local media reported that Abdulkadir Uraloglu, the Turkish Transport Minister, had said that after receiving permission from Tehran authorities were able to allow a Turkish-owned ship to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Haberturk reported that Uraloglu…

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