• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

The Bezos family just donated $100 million to help achieve one of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s top campaign promises

2

Despite having a $165 million net worth, Scarlett Johansson says work-life balance doesn’t exist—and the first step to success is admitting that

3

Nearly 50,000 Lake Tahoe residents have to find a new power source after their energy source looks to redirect lines to data centers

1

The Bezos family just donated $100 million to help achieve one of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s top campaign promises

2

Despite having a $165 million net worth, Scarlett Johansson says work-life balance doesn’t exist—and the first step to success is admitting that

3

Nearly 50,000 Lake Tahoe residents have to find a new power source after their energy source looks to redirect lines to data centers
EnergyIran

Iran and White House say the Strait of Hormuz is ‘completely open.’ But it definitely isn’t—at least for now

Jordan Blum
By
Jordan Blum
Jordan Blum
Editor, Energy
Down Arrow Button Icon
Jordan Blum
By
Jordan Blum
Jordan Blum
Editor, Energy
Down Arrow Button Icon
April 17, 2026, 2:11 PM ET
trump
President Donald Trump during a news conference at the White House, April 6, 2026.Alex Wong—Getty Images

Iran and the White House both declared the valuable Strait of Hormuz choke point “completely open” on April 17, and benchmark crude oil prices plunged below $90 per barrel for the first time since early March. But Iran is still asserting its control over the strait, and President Donald Trump maintained that the U.S. blockade on Iranian ports continues for now.

Recommended Video

Translation: Virtually nothing has changed yet, and the markets overreacted to the announcements, although peace talks are seemingly making notable progress, energy and geopolitical analysts told Fortune.

“The strait remains closed for now,” said Matt Reed, vice president of geopolitical and energy consultancy Foreign Reports. “The Iranians made clear that nothing has really changed yet. They still want ships to follow their orders. That means being rerouted. It means maybe paying tolls.

“When Iran said that the strait was completely open, it came with an asterisk.”

Despite the confusion on Friday, Reed said, there is clear progress being made in the negotiations.

“If there if there is a breakthrough to be had, it might not be for a few more days,” Reed said. “We are clearly inching in the right direction, but there’s still a long way to go. The problem for oil markets is that every day the strait remains shut the market is starved. And it is still closed for now.”

Historic supply shocks

The world has continued to suffer its greatest supply shock ever for nearly seven weeks with the closure of the strait and the halting of roughly 20% of global crude oil, liquefied natural gas, fertilizer, and petrochemical trade flow.

Although Trump declared the strait “completely open and ready for business and full passage,” he emphasized that the naval blockade on Iran’s exports will remain “in full force and effect” until a peace deal is “100% complete.” He said the process should be completed “very quickly” because most points are already negotiated. Trump added that Iran is in the process of removing sea mines from the strait, which has not been confirmed.

No immediate changes in traffic through the Persian Gulf were apparent April 17, said Claire Jungman, director of maritime risk and intelligence for Vortexa. “In practical terms, that likely means shipowners, charterers, and insurers will still want operational clarity before changing voyage decisions.”

German maritime shipper Hapag-Lloyd still has six vessels stuck in the Persian Gulf. The company’s crisis committee is meeting and trying to determine when it might be safe to traverse the strait, said spokesman Nils Haupt in email exchanges. But they remain in a holding pattern for now.

“There are still some open questions on our end, but they might be resolved within the next 24 hours,” Haupt said. “Top priority for the passage is safety and security for the seafarers, the vessel, and the cargo of our customers. If all open issues are cleared (i.e., insurance coverage, clear orders of Iranian government/military about the exact sea corridor to be used, and the sequence of ships leaving), we would prefer to pass the strait as soon as possible.”

Likewise, the Norwegian Shipowners’ Association said the tenuous situation “remains unresolved” with issues of sea mines, Iran’s conditional orders, insurance, and more still unclear for now.

It seems as if the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire announced April 16 was a key step toward moving the U.S. and Iran closer on a potential deal. Iran drew a line in the sand against Israel continuing to bomb Lebanon. Trump said the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz is not tied to Lebanon, but Trump added on social media, “Israel will not be bombing Lebanon any longer. They are PROHIBITED from doing so by the U.S.A. Enough is enough!!!”

Matt Reed now sees an interim peace deal—not a more in-depth permanent one—as possible as soon as this weekend.

“The good news is that we’re headed in the right direction. The bad news is that we haven’t achieved a breakthrough yet,” Reed said. “We could see Iran ease its grip on traffic going through the strait, but it won’t want to give up its leverage too soon.”

Subscribe to Fortune Gulf Brief. Every Tuesday, this new newsletter will deliver clear-eyed, authoritative intelligence on the deals, decisions, policies, and power shifts shaping one of the world’s most consequential regions, written for the people who need to act on it. Sign up here.
About the Author
Jordan Blum
By Jordan BlumEditor, Energy

Jordan Blum is the Energy editor at Fortune, overseeing coverage of a growing global energy sector for oil and gas, transition businesses, renewables, and critical minerals.

See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Energy

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Energy

Current price of oil as of May 15, 2026
Personal FinanceOil
Current price of oil as of May 15, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerMay 15, 2026
3 hours ago
Wall Street sees ‘nothing of real substance’ in Trump’s China trade deal—and stocks sell off globally
North AmericaMarkets
Wall Street sees ‘nothing of real substance’ in Trump’s China trade deal—and stocks sell off globally
By Jim EdwardsMay 15, 2026
5 hours ago
Peter Thiel, wearing a white shirt and in front of a red background, holds up a dollar bill.
EnergyData centers
Peter Thiel is leading investment in an ocean data center powered by waves—and the startup is reportedly worth $1 billion
By Sasha RogelbergMay 14, 2026
20 hours ago
Current price of oil as of May 14, 2026
Personal FinanceOil
Current price of oil as of May 14, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerMay 14, 2026
1 day ago
gene
Commentarybatteries
I helped design the original Tesla battery. Here’s how America can lead the world again
By Gene BerdichevskyMay 14, 2026
1 day ago
Wall Street no longer believes Kevin Warsh can do what President Trump wants
EconomyMarkets
Wall Street no longer believes Kevin Warsh can do what President Trump wants
By Jim EdwardsMay 14, 2026
1 day ago

Most Popular

The Bezos family just donated $100 million to help achieve one of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s top campaign promises
Politics
The Bezos family just donated $100 million to help achieve one of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s top campaign promises
By Jake AngeloMay 12, 2026
3 days ago
Despite having a $165 million net worth, Scarlett Johansson says work-life balance doesn’t exist—and the first step to success is admitting that
Success
Despite having a $165 million net worth, Scarlett Johansson says work-life balance doesn’t exist—and the first step to success is admitting that
By Preston ForeMay 13, 2026
2 days ago
Nearly 50,000 Lake Tahoe residents have to find a new power source after their energy source looks to redirect lines to data centers
Travel & Leisure
Nearly 50,000 Lake Tahoe residents have to find a new power source after their energy source looks to redirect lines to data centers
By Catherina GioinoMay 12, 2026
3 days ago
The airplane fuel shortage is a myth propagated by airlines who want to cancel unprofitable flights, says private jet CEO
Energy
The airplane fuel shortage is a myth propagated by airlines who want to cancel unprofitable flights, says private jet CEO
By Jim EdwardsMay 14, 2026
1 day ago
Current price of oil as of May 14, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of May 14, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerMay 14, 2026
1 day ago
Steve Jobs used a 'beer test' for interviews at Apple—if he didn’t want to drink with you, you didn’t get the job
Success
Steve Jobs used a 'beer test' for interviews at Apple—if he didn’t want to drink with you, you didn’t get the job
By Orianna Rosa RoyleMay 14, 2026
1 day ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.