ISTANBUL, April 6 (Xinhua) -- A Turkish-owned merchant vessel, the Ocean Thunder, successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday night, Türkiye's Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu said Monday.

Iranian soldiers patrol the Strait of Hormuz in southern Iran, April 30, 2019. (Photo: Xinhua)

The tanker, carrying Iraqi crude oil destined for Malaysia, completed its exit from the Persian Gulf following joint efforts of Turkish officials, Uraloglu said on social media platform X.

With this passage, a total of three Turkish-owned ships stranded in the region since the outbreak of the U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict have now safely passed through the strategic waterway.

The minister noted that the number of Turkish-owned vessels remaining near the strait has dropped to 12, with eight of them currently awaiting departure. Uraloglu added that authorities are working to ensure the safe transit of the eight vessels and their 156 crew members.

As a critical artery for global trade, shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has faced severe disruptions following recent military strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran. The heightened tensions have left numerous commercial vessels stranded near the strategic chokepoint, effectively halting routine maritime traffic.