Japan- and France-owned freighters cross the Strait of Hormuz under Iran control

On 2026-04-03, Iran allowed a Japan-linked LNG tanker and a France-owned container ship to transit the Strait of Hormuz under its control, after previously restricting passage to vessels without U.S. or Israeli ties. The article says the Japanese firm Mitsui O.S.K. Lines confirmed the crossing on Friday, and that the French CMA CGM vessel had transited the strait as well. This is a de-escalatory action affecting a major global shipping chokepoint.