Stranded ships await reopening of Strait of Hormuz as US-Iran deal progresses

(12 Jun 2026) RESTRICTION SUMMARY: ASSOCIATED PRESS Strait of Hormuz - 12 June 2026 1. Various of ships at sea in Strait of Hormuz STORYLINE: Thousands of seafarers aboard hundreds of vessels remain anchored in the Strait of Hormuz as mediators work to finalise a deal between Iran and the United States to end their war. Pakistan’s prime minister said on Friday the two sides have agreed to the wording of an agreement. Three regional officials say the emerging deal is expected to pave the way for reopening the strait, the phased lifting of sanctions on Iran, and the release of frozen Iranian assets. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the negotiations. The crucial strait at the mouth of the Persian Gulf, through which a fifth of the world's oil and natural gas supplies once passed, has been effectively shut by Iran's attacks on shipping since the start of the war in February. The apparent breakthrough in negotiations comes after Iran exchanged fire with the US and Israel over three days this week, threatening to return the Middle East to full-scale war. Keeping shipping traffic flowing through the vital waterway was not one of the reasons for launching the war, but after Iran leveraged its ability to effectively shut traffic through the strait, it's become a key problem to tackle in the conflict. =========================================================== Clients are reminded to adhere to all listed restrictions and to check the terms of their licence agreements. For further assistance, please contact the AP Archive on: Tel +44(0)2074827482 Email: [email protected]. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...