A French-owned container ship has passed through the Strait of Hormuz, marking the first known transit by a Western Europe-linked vessel since the conflict in Iran largely halted traffic along this key maritime route.
The vessel, CMA CGM Kribi, departed Thursday afternoon near Dubai heading toward Iran, broadcasting a signal indicating French ownership, according to ship-tracking data reported by Bloomberg.
It reportedly sailed close to the Iranian coast, through a channel between Qeshm Island and Larak Island, and later signaled its position near Muscat, with sources confirming the passage was successful.
Meanwhile, Iran has taken on a more controlling role in the area, introducing systems under which ship transits require prior approval. Some countries, such as Pakistan, have reportedly reached agreements to allow their vessels to pass.
