Trawlers are moored at a quay, as the rise in diesel prices makes fishing operations unprofitable, in Samut Sakhon province, Thailand, on March 25, 2026. (Credit: Chalinee Thirasupa/Reuters)
Thailand said Saturday it had reached an agreement with Iran to allow its oil tankers to pass “safely” through the Strait of Hormuz, which has been largely paralyzed since the start of the Middle East war.
The deal will help “ease concerns about fuel supplies to Thailand,” Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said at a news conference. “With this agreement, we are confident we will no longer face disruptions like those seen in early March,” he added.
Thailand told Iran it was “not a party to the conflict and had the right to safe maritime passage under international law,” Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow said. “Under the current mechanism, Thailand will notify Iran in advance of any vessel transiting the strait, and Iran will respond accordingly,” he said, adding that one Thai tanker had already passed under the agreement and others were preparing to do so.
Southeast Asian countries have been hit hard by fuel supply disruptions caused by the war, which began a month ago. In Thailand, diesel prices rose this week by 6 baht per liter after initially being capped at 30 baht (79 euro cents) per liter by the government. Fuel shortages and long lines at gas stations have become increasingly common.
“I would like to apologize to the public for the disruptions caused by fuel price management during the first half of March,” Anutin said. “At first, we thought the conflict would be short. It is now clear the situation has changed and is likely to last.”
The prime minister, recently re-elected, urged Thailand’s 65 million people not to panic, saying the country has sufficient fuel reserves.
A Thai merchant vessel, the Mayuree Naree, was attacked by Iran on March 11 while sailing through the Strait of Hormuz. Three crew members remain missing.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said Friday they had forced three container ships to turn back in the strait, adding that the strategic waterway was now closed to vessels coming from or heading to ports linked to the “enemy.”
Traffic in the Strait of Hormuz fell by 95 percent compared with normal levels between March 1 and March 26, according to maritime tracking platform Kpler. Since the start of the month, 24 commercial vessels, including 11 tankers, have been attacked or reported incidents in the area, according to the British maritime security agency UKMTO.
Israel continues attacks on southern Lebanon, demolishes buildings in Bint Jbeil