Middle East Situation Overview 3

Situation overview

We are continuing to closely monitor the situation in the Middle East and the ongoing political discussions between the US and Iran. At this time, while the ceasefire is reportedly holding, it is not yet clear which direction the conflict will head in and the risk of escalation remains high.

Our priority remains our people, assets, and customer cargo, and we will continue to take action to ensure their safety.

New developments

Since our last overview, we are pleased to report that the Port of Salalah is operating normally again and there have been no further major incidents that have impacted our operations. The security threat, however, remains high, and our teams are keeping a close eye on developments.

On Monday 13th April 2026, the US commenced a military blockade of maritime traffic entering and leaving Iranian ports. Prior to the conflict, Maersk services did not call Iranian ports and therefore the immediate impact is limited. Our teams are monitoring the wider, knock-on effects of the blockade, and we will continue to communicate any new developments with customers as soon as possible.

Elsewhere, the temporary ceasefire between the US and Iran announced on 7th April 2026 is welcome news, however it hasn’t yet resulted in any significant changes and it's difficult to determine how ongoing talks between the parties will develop.

As such, safely transiting the Strait of Hormuz at this time is not yet assured and we are therefore taking a cautious approach and not making changes to specific services. We will continue to assess the implications of the ceasefire and any potential outcomes of the continued political negotiations, and we will communicate directly about potential impacts to schedules, routing, or contingency measures via our dedicated Middle East Situation page.

Outlook

Looking ahead, the operating environment in the Middle East is expected to remain dynamic and we are therefore doing our utmost to be as agile as possible. We have deployed alternative solutions for customers through combinations of land, air and sea to reach final destinations, and we encourage customers to reach out to their local Customer Experience representative to discuss options.

We will continue to monitor developments closely and will keep you informed of the latest conditions as they evolve.

Important links

For the latest information, please continue to visit the Maersk Operational Updates page online, our contingency plans for ocean vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, and the latest updates on port operations in the area.

Should you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. Our teams are on hand to support with your planning, should you need assistance.