The Embassy of Iran in Malaysia confirmed that a Malaysian ship has successfully passed through the Strait of Hormuz, making it one of the most significant developments in the current Middle East maritime crisis.
In an official statement on platform X, the embassy said that Iran “does not forget its friends”, referring to the close diplomatic relations with Malaysia that allowed the passage to be opened.
The development came after high-level negotiations between the Malaysian and Iranian governments, including discussions between Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and the Iranian President.
At least 7 Malaysian ships had previously been stranded in the area.
Iran had given special permission for the Malaysian ship to continue its journey.
The Malaysian ship was also not charged any toll due to its status as a ‘friendly nation’.
According to maritime tracking data, the Ocean Thunder, chartered by a unit of state-owned company PETRONAS, was carrying about 1 million barrels of Basrah Heavy crude oil from Iraq, and passed through the narrow passage with special permission given by the Iranian side to ships that have no direct connection to the United States or Israel.
The ship is expected to arrive at the receiving terminal in Pengerang, Johor around mid-April 2026, after sailing for more than two weeks from the exit of the Persian Gulf, a route that was previously completely closed during the height of the conflict.
