Latest updates — newest first · Last updated: 21 July 2026, 9:00 AM AWST
With the Strait of Hormuz closed again, there is no safe sea route for live animals — roughly 80% of Australia's live sheep are bound for Gulf ports that lie beyond it.
The one sea route that Australia's live sheep trade depends on is shut again. Around 80 per cent of Australia's live sheep are destined for Persian Gulf ports beyond the Strait of Hormuz — Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE and the east coast of Saudi Arabia — and as of 19 July that strait is closed to commercial shipping, with traffic reduced to a trickle and vessels unable to transit safely. For any ship carrying animals, that means there is no safe passage and no safe port at the other end. The timing compounds an already collapsing trade: the northern summer heat moratorium continues to bar sheep voyages to the Middle East until 14 September, and industry analysts already expect 2026 to be the smallest live sheep export year in modern Australian history. Cattle and other livestock are not covered by the moratorium, leaving them most exposed to any decision to sail toward the closed strait. Stop Live Exports' position is unchanged and only more urgent: no animal should be loaded onto a vessel pointed at a war zone.
The reopening deal has collapsed: Trump declares the ceasefire "over" after Iran again attacks ships in Hormuz, and both sides trade heavy strikes.
The interim memorandum that reopened the Strait of Hormuz in June has fallen apart. On 7 July, Iran attacked three commercial vessels transiting or near the strait, according to US Central Command and the US-led Joint Maritime Information Center. The US revoked its ceasefire waiver on Iranian oil sales and launched retaliatory strikes on some 80 to 90 Iranian military targets — air defences, coastal radar, missile and drone sites — and more than 60 IRGC small boats in and around the strait. Iran retaliated with drones and missiles against US bases in Kuwait and Bahrain, both of which reported interceptions. Speaking at a NATO summit, President Trump declared the ceasefire "over," said he was "not sure" he still wanted a deal, and threatened that further strikes would "get much worse." Oil prices jumped around 6 per cent. The International Maritime Organization's Secretary-General condemned the "reckless" attacks for placing seafarers in grave danger, and shipowners surveyed by Bloomberg began reassessing whether transit is safe, with shipping bodies Bimco and the International Chamber of Shipping warning the security situation is volatile and sea mines remain a threat.
The EU will examine replacing live exports for slaughter with meat exports — its animal welfare Commissioner calls long transport journeys "the single biggest threat on the system."
Launching the European Commission's new Livestock Strategy on 7 July, the Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare, Olivér Várhelyi, said the Commission will start examining whether it is more economically feasible to export meat instead of live animals for slaughter to third countries. Describing long journey times for animals transported to slaughter as "the single biggest threat on the system," the Commissioner said the strategy would look at incentives to reduce the time and strain animals endure in transport, including support for more regional and local slaughterhouses and even mobile slaughterhouses for remote regions. He stressed any shift would need to be economically viable, but framed replacing live exports with meat as an option the Commission now intends to investigate — a notable signal from one of the world's largest trading blocs that the long-distance live trade is being questioned at the highest policy levels.
Industry response: the Australian Livestock Exporters' Council argues Australia's trade should be judged on its own record, not the global fleet.
In a response to the 2026 Global Livestock Fleet Report, Australian Livestock Exporters' Council chief executive Mark Harvey-Sutton argued that global findings do not automatically apply to Australia's trade, which he says operates under one of the world's most stringent regulatory frameworks — the Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock (ASEL), Australian Maritime Safety Authority requirements, international maritime conventions and independent inspections, audits and veterinary oversight. He contended that if a vessel does not meet Australia's standards "it does not sail," that vessels servicing the Australian trade are comparatively young at an average of around 19 years, and that vessel age alone is an incomplete measure of safety or welfare, which he said depends on the whole system — stocking densities, ventilation, feed and water management, experienced crew, veterinary support and contingency planning. Harvey-Sutton acknowledged there is always room for improvement but argued the debate should be based on Australia's own system and performance rather than broad generalisations about the global fleet.
"A fleet built for cargo, not animals": a major new global report examines all 159 livestock carriers at sea — and Stop Live Exports is backing its release.
Stop Live Exports is supporting the international release of the 2026 Global Livestock Fleet Report, a nearly 500-page investigation by the Animal Welfare Foundation, Robin des Bois and Tierschutzbund Zürich examining all 159 livestock carriers operating on the world's oceans. The report finds that 84 per cent of the fleet — 134 vessels — are old cargo ships converted to carry live animals rather than purpose-built, and that these converted ships average around 45 years of age, have each accumulated some 242 technical deficiencies and have been detained by port authorities about four times. For six years running, livestock carriers have been ranked the most dangerous category of ship in the world. The authors document that more than half the fleet sails under flags on the Paris Memorandum of Understanding black list, with complex ownership structures obscuring accountability, and that since 1975 at least 10 livestock shipwrecks have claimed 88 crew members and more than 193,000 animals. The report frames live animal transport by sea as sitting at the intersection of maritime safety, animal welfare, labour standards and environmental protection — and calls on governments to enforce higher standards and close the loopholes.
The shipping industry's own press confirms it: livestock carriers are the worst-performing fleet at sea — and conversions are accelerating, not slowing.
Maritime trade outlets covering the new Global Livestock Fleet Report describe a sector in "chronic regulatory failure," with livestock carriers ranked the worst-performing category of ship in port state control inspections for at least six consecutive years. Of the 159 vessels in the fleet, the report found that 84 per cent were originally built for other purposes and converted to carry animals, often decades ago; the converted ships average around 45 years of age, with hundreds of accumulated technical deficiencies and repeated port detentions. The trade press highlights a worsening trend: between January 2024 and March 2026, ten older vessels were converted into livestock carriers, compared with just three across 2022 and 2023 — even as major operators leave the business, with the Dutch Vroon group selling its livestock operations and Wellard, once described as Australia's largest live export company, having sold its last vessel in 2025. More than half the fleet sails under flags on the Paris Memorandum of Understanding black list, with ownership increasingly held by shell companies and small operators that obscure accountability. The report's authors — the Animal Welfare Foundation, Robin des Bois and Tierschutzbund Zürich — urge every government involved in the trade to enforce higher standards and close the loopholes.
As the Hormuz deal wobbles, the live export picture stays the same: almost no sheep are leaving Western Australia, and what happens next depends on the war, not the moratorium.
With the northern summer moratorium in force (1 June to 14 September) and almost no sheep-carrying vessels arriving in Fremantle, independent live export consultant Katrina Love — former campaign manager for a Fremantle-based anti-live-export organisation — reiterated that the collapse in Western Australian live sheep exports is being driven by the convergence of the moratorium, a shortage of suitable vessels, and the protracted Strait of Hormuz disruption, rather than the 1 May 2028 phase-out. Around 80 per cent of Australia's live sheep go to destinations in the Persian Gulf that sit beyond the Strait of Hormuz — Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar and the east coast of Saudi Arabia — so the conflict bears directly on the trade's core routes. Love noted that only one livestock shipment from any country had gone to Oman since mid-February, and none beyond the strait, and said export numbers for the rest of 2026 would depend far more on the status of the US/Israel/Iran/Houthi/Hezbollah conflict than on the end of the prohibition period.
The Hormuz reopening deal has survived its first serious test — a week of vessel strikes and reciprocal attacks on US bases — with commercial shipping flow holding throughout.
The interim memorandum of understanding signed on 17 June absorbed its most serious operational shock since reopening began. Two livestock-irrelevant but shipping-significant strikes — on the Singapore-flagged Ever Lovely on 25 June and the Panama-flagged tanker Kiku, carrying more than two million barrels of Qatari oil, on 27 June — triggered a four-day exchange in which the US struck Iranian sites and Iran struck US bases at Ali Al Salem in Kuwait and Port Salman in Bahrain on 28 June, killing one Qatari citizen by shrapnel. Both sides then halted "for now," and follow-on talks moved to Doha for 30 June. Despite the violence, independent AIS audits and US officials reported that the physical flow of ships through the strait held throughout, with the central deep-water channel still mined and being cleared while traffic uses the northern and southern routes. Oil markets had already unwound the entire war premium — Brent settled at US$73.74 on 24 June, its lowest since before the 28 February war — before the strikes nudged prices back up.
The northern summer prohibition is in force and the legislated 2028 end of live sheep export by sea stands — the two firm protections on the books.
The northern hemisphere summer prohibition bars the export of live sheep by sea to the Middle East on any vessel leaving an Australian port during the hottest months, reflecting the recognised risk of heat stress to sheep acclimatised to the southern Australian winter. The RSPCA, which documents that independent-observer data from dozens of voyages found sheep starving on a large majority of journeys and suffering heat stress on most, argues the prohibition was never sufficient on its own and that the trade cannot be made humane through regulation — which is why the legislated end of live sheep export by sea by 1 May 2028 matters. For Stop Live Exports, the seasonal ban is a reminder that the trade's own rules concede, for more than three months each year, that the conditions are unsafe.
Hormuz reopening stalls but is not reversed: the US-Iran deal was signed 17 June and traffic resumed, but Iran's military re-declared the strait "closed" on 20 June — even as ships keep transiting.
The interim memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran was signed on 17 June, extending the ceasefire 60 days and providing for a toll-free reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, the lifting of the US naval blockade, and clearance of Iranian mines within 30 days. Commercial transits resumed from 18 June, with trade-intelligence firm Kpler recording more than 20 tankers crossing in a single day — the highest since early June, though still well below pre-war levels. The recovery was thrown into doubt on 20 June when Iran's IRGC military command re-declared the strait "closed" in response to renewed Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon, calling them a breach of the deal. The closure claim was contradicted within hours by Iran's own foreign ministry, which said shipping was "operating normally," and by US Central Command, which reported 55 merchant ships transiting on 20 June carrying more than 17 million barrels of oil. US and Iranian delegations met in Switzerland on 21–22 June to negotiate implementation — covering Iran's uranium stockpile, enrichment limits and de-mining — while President Trump threatened to impose US tolls on the strait if a final deal is not reached within 60 days. The central deep-water channel remains mined and full normalisation is expected to take weeks to months.
Ban Live Exports: International Awareness Day marked worldwide on 14 June — a global day of action against the long-distance sea transport of animals for slaughter.
14 June marked Ban Live Exports: International Awareness Day, the annual global day of action coordinated by animal-protection organisations against the live export of animals by sea for slaughter. Ahead of the day, Humane World for Animals called on the South African government to prohibit the export of live animals by sea for slaughter, warning that once animals leave a country's shores they are no longer protected by its animal welfare laws — creating an oversight gap in which preventable suffering occurs beyond the reach of national regulation. Campaigners note that long-distance sea voyages expose animals to heat stress, overcrowding, disease and exhaustion, followed in many destination markets by slaughter without stunning. The day is a reminder that, while Australia has legislated an end to live sheep export by sea from 1 May 2028, the trade continues until then, and the export of cattle, goats and other species by sea — and of sheep by air — is not covered by the phase-out.
Trump declares US-Iran deal "now complete" — permanent ceasefire, naval blockade lifted, and toll-free reopening of the Strait of Hormuz authorised; accord subsequently signed 17 June in Switzerland.
On 14 June, President Trump announced on Truth Social that "the Deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran is now complete," authorising the toll-free reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the immediate removal of the US naval blockade of Iranian ports. A draft memorandum of understanding released through Iranian state-affiliated media set out 14 points, including a permanent ceasefire, an end to the war (including in Lebanon), the lifting of the blockade and reopening of the strait within 30 days, de-mining of the waterway, and a reaffirmation by Iran that it will not produce nuclear weapons. The accord is scheduled to be signed on 19 June in Switzerland, with Pakistan and Qatar credited as mediators. UN Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the agreement as a "critical step," while UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron called it a "breakthrough"; Starmer said the UK-France international mission stood ready to support the strait's reopening "without restrictions or tolls." Macron said G7 leaders would meet at Evian on 15 June to discuss the lasting reopening of Hormuz, support for Lebanon, and a final accord on Iran's nuclear and ballistic activities. Markets responded immediately: US crude fell more than 4.5% to below $80 per barrel — its lowest since early March — though prices remained more than 40% above the level at the start of the year. Shipping sources cautioned that more than 800 vessels remained backlogged inside the Gulf and that de-mining and the restoration of normal traffic would take time.
Trump declares Iran deal "largely negotiated" and "will be announced shortly" — calls Oval Office round of eight regional leaders — but Iran's Fars says strait stays under Iranian management; oil drops 5%; 240 ships still waiting for IRGC permission.
On 22 May, President Trump posted on Truth Social that a peace deal with Iran had been "largely negotiated, subject to finalization" and would be announced shortly. He said he had held Oval Office calls with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan and Bahrain, as well as Netanyahu — all focused on finalising terms with Iran. The potential agreement takes the form of a memorandum of understanding as a first phase, with broader negotiations to follow within 30 to 60 days. Oil prices fell more than 5% to two-week lows on deal optimism. However, the picture was immediately complicated: Iran's semiofficial Fars news agency reported that under the latest exchanged text, the Strait of Hormuz would "remain under Iranian management" — directly contradicting Washington's public framing of a free and open waterway. A day after his "largely negotiated" post, Trump wrote that he had told his negotiators "not to rush into a deal" because "time is on our side," and confirmed the US blockade would remain in full force "until an agreement is reached, certified, and signed." Rubio told reporters the deal was "a work in progress." The US blockade had by this point redirected 100 commercial ships attempting to enter or exit Iranian ports. Iran's IRGC Navy reported 33 tankers had cleared the strait with Iranian permission in the 24 hours before 24 May, but approximately 240 ships remained waiting for IRGC clearance. Iran's foreign minister Araghchi, Pakistan's army chief Munir, and chief negotiator Ghalibaf held direct consultations in Tehran on 23 May to discuss "preventing collapse of the ceasefire."
Iran's Persian Gulf Strait Authority goes operationally live — toll regime active at up to $2M per transit in yuan or Bitcoin to IRGC wallets — India, Iraq and Pakistan get bilateral carve-outs — first VLCCs transit in weeks — US seizes Iran-linked tanker SKYWAVE in Indian Ocean.
On 18 May, Iran's newly established Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) went operationally live, formalising a state-administered toll regime for Strait of Hormuz transit. The PGSA — established on 5 May and with no recognition by any other country — operates as Iran's official vetting and permit-issuing body for vessels seeking to transit the strait. Under the system, shipowners must submit a "Vessel Information Declaration" to info@PGSA.ir disclosing vessel ownership, insurance, crew manifests and cargo before a transit permit is issued. No official tariff schedule has been published, but maritime intelligence firm Windward reported that vessels have paid up to US$2 million per transit, settled in Chinese yuan — or in Bitcoin transferred to IRGC-linked cryptocurrency wallets, bypassing Western banking infrastructure entirely. Earlier reporting had referenced a $1-per-barrel toll for tanker cargoes. Windward's analysis showed India, Iraq and Pakistan had secured bilateral access arrangements outside the formal fee structure, effectively creating a two-tier system: allies of convenience transit with state-to-state carve-outs while Chinese-linked and UAE-managed grey fleet operators absorb the standard toll. On 20 May, three VLCCs transited the strait outbound — the first VLCC transits of the current reporting cycle — including a synchronised Chinese-controlled pair transmitting AIS openly and a South Korean-flagged VLCC conducting a 41-hour dark transit. The US seized the Iran-linked VLCC SKYWAVE in the Indian Ocean on 19 May, its third such seizure in the current enforcement campaign. Approximately 240 commercial vessels remained queued awaiting IRGC clearance. The US State Department separately warned that any payment of PGSA tolls — including in cash, digital assets, in-kind transfers or charitable donations to Iranian-linked entities — risks secondary sanctions, including restrictions on access to the US financial system.
Vessel seized off UAE coast and moved toward Iran; second cargo ship sunk near Oman — Iran's VP declares strait "always our property" — Iran sets five conditions for resuming talks including full sovereignty over Hormuz.
On 15 May, two significant incidents occurred simultaneously near the Strait of Hormuz. The UK Maritime Trade Operations centre reported that a vessel was seized by unauthorised personnel while anchored 38 nautical miles northeast of Fujairah — an important UAE oil terminal that has been repeatedly attacked during the war — and was being moved toward Iranian waters. The same day, a second cargo ship sank after an attack near the Omani coast. Responsibility for both incidents was not immediately attributed, though they coincided with senior Iranian officials explicitly asserting control over the strait. Iran's Senior Vice President Mohammadreza Aref declared on state TV that "the strait belongs to Iran" and that Tehran would not relinquish it "at any price. It has always been our property." Iran's judiciary spokesperson Asghar Jahangir stated that Iran has the "legal and judicial right" to seize oil tankers connected to the US because, in Tehran's framing, the US has violated international maritime laws. Iran's semiofficial Fars news agency separately reported that Iran would not resume talks with the United States unless five conditions were met: war reparations, full sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, the end of the US naval blockade, the unfreezing of Iranian assets, and sanctions relief — conditions the White House is "again unlikely to accept," according to reporting by PBS. The incidents occurred on the same day as the Trump-Xi Beijing summit, at which the White House claimed both leaders had agreed Hormuz "must remain open" — a claim directly contradicted by both Iranian actions on the ground and China's simultaneous failure to reflect any such agreement in its own readout of the meeting.
Australian rural press concedes 2026 is on track to be the smallest live sheep export year in modern history — Stock & Land, Farm Weekly and Stock Journal attribute the collapse to the Albanese phaseout and "the war in Iran."
Five regional rural mastheads — Stock & Land (Vic), Farm Weekly (WA), Stock Journal (SA), North Queensland Register and The Land (NSW) — published identical industry analysis on 14 May, conceding for the first time that the combination of the Albanese phaseout and the Hormuz crisis has effectively ended the Middle East live sheep trade. The wording matters: "2026 is shaping up as potentially the smallest live sheep export year in modern Australian history. Officially, the cause of decline will likely be recorded as government policy." But the analysis goes further: "the war in Iran appears to have dramatically accelerated the timeline... As tensions escalated around the Strait of Hormuz, the economics of operating vessels into the region deteriorated rapidly." This is the first time industry-aligned press has directly attributed accelerated decline to the war. Simultaneously, DAFF has quietly opened Round 2 of its Farm Business Transition Program (applications 19 May – 15 July) — part of the $140 million package paying producers to exit the trade. Two parallel realities now coexist in government policy. DAFF is administering a transition program that pays producers to leave the trade, while refusing to publicly acknowledge that the war making transit impossible has any regulatory bearing. Independent monitor Katrina Love confirms no Australian livestock vessel has transited Hormuz since mid-February — a 90+ day operational closure that has occurred entirely without DAFF comment.
Livestock dhow Haji Ali attacked and sunk off Oman — vessel carrying live animals from Somalia to UAE struck by explosive object, crew of 12 rescued by Oman Coast Guard.
A wooden cargo dhow named Haji Ali, carrying a livestock cargo from Somalia to the United Arab Emirates, was struck by an unidentified explosive object — likely a drone or missile — at approximately 0330 local time on 13 May, near the Omani coast close to the Strait of Hormuz. The vessel caught fire and sank. All 12 crew members evacuated to a lifeboat and were rescued by the Oman Coast Guard, who took them to Dibba, a port near the Strait of Hormuz entrance. India's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Shipping jointly condemned the attack, stating they "deplore the fact that commercial shipping and civilian mariners continue to be targeted." Indian authorities noted this was the second attack on a small merchant vessel within a week — an incident they said had gone unreported by standard maritime monitoring services before Indian authorities raised it. The animals aboard the Haji Ali did not survive.
Dutch shipping giant Vroon exits live export — sells Livestock Express and its 11-vessel fleet to WA's Heytesbury, as a single Australian family consolidates the world's largest livestock fleet.
Vroon Holding, the Netherlands-based maritime company that built 13 of the world's fewer than 20 purpose-built livestock carriers, has sold its entire livestock business to refocus on energy, liquids, infrastructure and offshore wind. The buyer is Heytesbury, the WA-based pastoral and agribusiness group privately owned by Paul Holmes à Court. The deal — estimated at hundreds of millions of dollars and the product of more than a year of negotiations — gives Heytesbury the world's largest independent and dedicated livestock fleet: 11 purpose-built vessels including the Brahman Express, Friesian Express, Galloway Express, Ganado Express, Gelbray Express, Girolando Express, Gloucester Express, Greyman Express, Gudali Express and Murray Grey Express, plus Livestock Express's Singapore office and technical management services. Heytesbury already owns six northern cattle stations, Vasse Felix wines and the Ocean Swagman vessel acquired from Wellard in 2019. Holmes à Court told Beef Central the alternative scenario was material: had the fleet been broken up, the 11 Australian-accredited vessels "would likely have shifted into regions with higher charter rates and lower welfare standards." The industry framed the deal as a "vote of confidence." Maritime Executive framed it more directly: "Vroon is the Latest to Exit Livestock Export." Only ~20 of the ~120 livestock carriers operating globally are approved by the Australian Government — and the Livestock Express fleet accounts for more than half of those. The Ganado Express, currently carrying pregnant dairy heifers from Portland and Fremantle to Türkiye via the Cape of Good Hope, is now a Heytesbury vessel.
Reuters investigation: Iraq and Pakistan strike bilateral transit deals with Iran — new Persian Gulf Strait Authority issues permits and collects tolls — Oxford analyst: "Hormuz is no longer a neutral transit route, it is a controlled corridor."
The geometry of the Hormuz crisis fundamentally changed this week. A Reuters investigation published 12 May reveals that Iraq and Pakistan have struck separate bilateral arrangements with Iran to move energy cargoes through Hormuz under Iranian supervision. The first confirmed test was on 10 May, when Iraq secured passage for two Very Large Crude Carriers carrying about 2 million barrels each. Iraq is seeking Iranian approval for further transits — oil revenues account for 95% of its state budget. Pakistan has separately negotiated passage for two Qatari LNG tankers. Iran has formalised the new system. Lloyd's List confirmed on 7 May the launch of a new "Persian Gulf Strait Authority" to approve transits and collect tolls. Iran now requires detailed documentation for each vessel — cargo, ownership, destination — to be submitted to its naval forces before transit. Oxford Institute analyst Claudio Steuer: "Iran has shifted from blocking Hormuz to controlling access to it — Hormuz is no longer a neutral transit route, it is a controlled corridor." Before the war, ~3,000 vessels passed Hormuz monthly; traffic is now around 5% of that. Brent crude is up more than 50% since 28 February. The implications for Australian live export are direct. ASEL 4.0 contains no provisions for the export of animals through a foreign-naval-administered corridor in a hostile state. The legal status of any Australian-flagged livestock vessel attempting transit is now unknown.
Ceasefire collapses on 7 May — three US Navy destroyers attacked transiting Hormuz, CENTCOM strikes Bandar Abbas, Qeshm and Minab — Trump: "just a love tap" — Iran disables two more US-attacked tankers on 8 May.
The most serious test of the month-old US-Iran ceasefire occurred late on 7 May. Three US Navy guided-missile destroyers transiting the Strait of Hormuz toward the Gulf of Oman came under attack — CENTCOM said Iranian forces "launched multiple missiles, drones and small boats" against them. CENTCOM responded with "self-defense strikes" against Iranian military facilities at Bandar Abbas, Qeshm Island and Minab — targeting missile and drone launch sites, command-and-control locations, and ISR nodes. No US naval assets were damaged. Trump confirmed the events on Truth Social and described the US response as "just a love tap." Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya command denied initiating the attack, claiming the US had violated the ceasefire first by targeting an Iranian oil tanker near Jask, and a second vessel near Fujairah. Escalation continued on 8 May: US forces disabled two more Iranian oil tankers attempting to breach the blockade. A Chinese-crewed tanker registered in the Marshall Islands was attacked near the strait. Macron phoned Pezeshkian on 9 May to condemn "unjustified" attacks on Emirati infrastructure. Asked by NBC News whether the conflict was over, Trump said: "No. It's over when it's over." The situation in the strait is now functionally one of active hostilities — both sides claiming the other fired first while continuing to operate as though the ceasefire remains in effect.
Iran's 10-point peace plan revealed — demands Hormuz sovereignty, ~$270B reparations, end of maritime attacks, unfreezing of assets, lifting of blockade — Trump rejects "TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE."
The detailed terms of Iran's latest peace proposal — now publicly characterised by Trump as "TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE" and "a piece of garbage" — were revealed through 11 May via Al Jazeera, CNN, CFR and the Wall Street Journal. Iran's plan contains ten core demands: recognition of Iranian sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz; compensation for war damages (Iran has separately claimed ~$270 billion); an immediate end to maritime attacks on Iranian vessels; an end to the US naval blockade; unfreezing of Iranian assets and lifting of oil sanctions; deferral of nuclear talks to a later track, with Iran offering to suspend enrichment for a shorter period than the US-proposed 20 years and to dilute some uranium and transfer the rest to a third country (returnable if the US exits any deal); end of war on all fronts including Lebanon; no preconditions for next talks. Trump's Oval Office remarks focused on the uranium element, accusing Iran of having agreed to allow the US to remove its ~440kg of highly enriched uranium then reneging. He framed the Iranian position as "moderates dying to make a deal" versus "lunatics" blocking it. Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Baghaei rejected the framing: "Enriched uranium is as sacred to us as Iranian soil and will not be transferred anywhere under any circumstances." Netanyahu told CBS the war "is not over."
Heat moratorium begins 1 June — even if Hormuz reopens, sheep exports to the Middle East cannot legally resume until mid-September — sheep now face a double blockade: military and regulatory.
As the Hormuz crisis enters its 72nd day, a critical but largely unreported dimension of the live sheep export situation is coming into focus: even if a peace deal were signed today and Hormuz reopened immediately, Australian sheep could not legally be exported to the Middle East until mid-September at the earliest. The northern summer prohibition — 1 June to 14 September under DAFF regulations — is three weeks away. This moratorium exists because of well-documented fatal heat stress when sheep are transported from Australia's winter into the northern hemisphere summer. Peer-reviewed research published in 2020 found sheep would experience heat stress on 50% of voyages offloading at two of the four major Gulf ports between July and September. The 2017 Awassi Express incident, in which approximately 2,400 sheep died of heat stress, and the whistleblower footage broadcast on 60 Minutes in 2018, directly led to the moratorium's introduction in 2019. RSPCA Australia has consistently called for the prohibition to be extended from 1 May to 31 October. Combined with Aramco's warning that shipping markets will not normalise until 2027, the trade now faces compounding closure windows: the current military closure, the 1 June–14 September heat moratorium, and a market normalisation period extending into 2027. The Middle East trade may be effectively unavailable until late 2027 at the very earliest — if it resumes at all before the 2028 ban.
Dr Ashley Bunce appointed as new Inspector General of Animal Welfare and Live Animal Exports — five-year term — mandate to independently review DAFF's welfare systems while DAFF remains silent on Hormuz.
The Albanese Government announced on 1 May the appointment of Dr Ashley Bunce as the new Inspector General of Animal Welfare and Live Animal Exports (IGAWLAE) for a five-year term. The IGAWLAE is an independent statutory office that reviews the systems and processes underpinning DAFF's regulation of livestock exports, including the application of animal welfare standards. Minister for Agriculture Julie Collins said the appointment "reflects the Government's focus on maintaining high regulatory standards and building confidence across the livestock supply chain." Dr Bunce is described as an experienced public sector leader with expertise across regulatory reform, biosecurity, livestock management, environmental management and industry transformation, having delivered outcomes at national and international levels across animal welfare, biodiversity conservation, waste management, biosecurity, and agricultural research. The appointment comes as the Hormuz crisis — now in its 69th day — has raised precisely the questions the IGAWLAE exists to examine: whether DAFF's systems for regulating live export voyages are robust and fit for purpose when the security environment deteriorates dramatically mid-voyage; whether DAFF's approval of the Dareen's voyage to Aqaba through an active conflict zone was consistent with its animal welfare obligations; and whether the absence of any public statement from DAFF across 69 days represents an adequate standard of transparency. The IGAWLAE's review reports are publicly available. Dr Bunce's appointment gives SLE and other welfare organisations a formal, independent channel through which to raise these questions.
Animals Australia's Lyn White: animals delivered to Aqaba on the MV Dareen now face conscious slaughter — "chances are very, very high that they will have their throats cut whilst fully conscious."
Animals Australia's Lyn White, who has spent decades investigating live export slaughter practices in the Middle East, provided a stark assessment of the welfare outcome facing the Australian cattle and sheep that arrived in Aqaba, Jordan aboard the MV Dareen on 20 April. "Whether the sheep, cattle and crew arrive in Aqaba without event remains to be seen, but for the sheep and cattle, the chances are very, very high that they will have their throats cut whilst fully conscious at the facilities they are sent to." Lyn White noted that while one Jordanian government facility is believed to perform pre-slaughter stunning prior to halal slaughter — a practice she helped establish years ago through her relationship with Princess Alia of Jordan — "the slaughter is not policed or overseen, and it is now unknown how many animals are actually stunned." She confirmed that all Australian sheep and cattle exported to Kuwait, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Pakistan, Türkiye and Israel are subject to 100% unstunned slaughter — "their throats cut whilst fully conscious." These are the very welfare outcomes — not just the voyage risks — that Stop Live Exports and Animals Australia have campaigned against for decades. The Dareen voyage, approved by DAFF, delivered Australian animals into this system during an active war in the receiving region. DAFF has issued no welfare assessment of on-arrival conditions or any public statement on the Dareen since its departure on 1 April.
Ganado Express carries pregnant dairy heifers from Portland and Fremantle to Türkiye via the Cape of Good Hope — a 41–43 day voyage, with Hormuz closure directly worsening welfare outcomes.
The Hormuz crisis is not just preventing live export voyages — it is dramatically worsening welfare conditions for animals on voyages that are proceeding. Former Stop Live Exports campaign manager and live export vessel monitor Katrina Love has documented that the Ganado Express is currently carrying dairy cows from Portland (Victoria) and beef and dairy cattle from Fremantle (Western Australia) to Türkiye, travelling via the Cape of Good Hope, up the west coast of Africa, and through the Mediterranean — because the Suez Canal and Red Sea routes via Hormuz are unavailable. For the animals first loaded in Portland, this creates a voyage of 41 to 43 days. Love stated: "In what universe does the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry think that having pregnant dairy heifers on board a vessel for 41+ days is acceptable?" This has now become the norm for livestock carriers not wanting to risk the Red Sea and potential Houthi rebel actions. Pre-crisis, the Turkey route would typically take approximately 18–22 days via the Suez Canal. The Hormuz and Red Sea closures have more than doubled voyage times for some routes — and ASEL Version 3.3 (which governs maximum voyage durations and welfare standards) is currently under review as ASEL 4.0, with no conflict-zone or extended-voyage provisions that reflect the current crisis. DAFF has issued no guidance on extended voyage welfare requirements as a consequence of Hormuz route closures.
ASEL 4.0 review is underway in 2026 — current standards contain no provisions for conflict-zone approvals or rerouted voyages, and DAFF has issued no guidance on how Hormuz affects its obligations.
The Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock (ASEL), version 3.3, are currently under review in 2026 as part of the ASEL 4.0 update process. ASEL is the foundational regulatory document governing minimum animal health and welfare standards for all Australian live export voyages — by sea and air. It covers every stage of the supply chain, from sourcing and preparation of livestock through to loading, sea transport, and arrival at destination. The ASEL review is the primary mechanism through which welfare standards can be updated, strengthened or adapted. However, neither DAFF nor the ASEL review process has publicly addressed the welfare implications of the 2026 Hormuz crisis — including: the approval of voyages into active conflict zones (the Dareen); the dramatic extension of voyage times caused by rerouting via the Cape of Good Hope (the Ganado Express and other vessels); or the question of whether ASEL's maximum voyage duration standards, stocking density rules, and welfare monitoring requirements are adequate when vessels are forced onto 40+ day alternative routes. RSPCA Australia has confirmed the ASEL 4.0 review is underway and has called for animal welfare to be prioritised in the process. With live sheep exports legislated to end on 1 May 2028, the ASEL 4.0 review will govern welfare standards for the final two years of the sheep trade — a period coinciding directly with the Hormuz crisis and its aftermath.
Project Freedom paused after 24 hours — 14-point MOU framework leaked: Iran to commit to nuclear moratorium, US to lift blockade and sanctions, both sides progressively open Hormuz over 30 days.
In a dramatic sequence, Trump paused Project Freedom after just 24 hours on 5 May, citing "great progress" toward a "Complete and Final Agreement" with Iran brokered by Pakistan. The pause came after a violent first day — Iran fired on US destroyers and UAE allies, the US sank 7 Iranian boats — raising fears the ceasefire would collapse. Axios reported that a one-page, 14-point MOU is being negotiated between Trump's envoys (Witkoff and Kushner) and Iranian officials. The framework would: declare an end to the war; open a 30-day final negotiation; see Iran commit to a nuclear enrichment moratorium; see the US lift its naval blockade and ease sanctions; release billions in frozen Iranian funds; and progressively lift Hormuz restrictions. Iran's Foreign Ministry "strongly rejected" some terms even as it said it was reviewing the proposal. Trump warned on Wednesday that if Iran does not accept, the US would resume bombing "at a much higher level and intensity than before." On Thursday, Iranian forces fired missiles and drones at three US Navy destroyers in the Strait. CENTCOM responded with strikes on Bandar Abbas, Qeshm and Bandar Kargan. Trump called it "just a love tap." Macron announced the carrier Charles de Gaulle was heading toward the Red Sea for a possible multinational mission. China called for a "comprehensive ceasefire" and Hormuz reopening. Brent crude briefly fell below $100.
MV Al Kuwait NOT returning to Fremantle — AIS confirms the vessel is continuing Indonesia cattle runs, with the Middle East route abandoned for now.
Updated AIS vessel tracking data confirms that the MV Al Kuwait (IMO 9590931) — the world's largest livestock carrier — is not currently heading to Fremantle as earlier reported. The vessel is continuing to operate in the Indonesia cattle trade route following its Darwin departure on 19 April. Its next destination remains unclear, with exporter Patrick Underwood having previously confirmed that if the vessel cannot return to Kuwait, it will likely undertake further Indonesia cattle shipments. The Middle East route used by the Al Kuwait — the Strait of Hormuz corridor to Kuwait and Gulf ports — remains closed to commercial traffic. Any resumption of the vessel's intended sheep export operations to the Middle East is contingent on a peace deal being reached between the US and Iran, the lifting of both the Iranian Hormuz closure and the US naval blockade, and DAFF approving a new export consignment under whatever security conditions apply post-deal. With negotiations around a 14-point MOU currently underway, a Hormuz reopening could potentially occur within weeks — or not at all, if talks collapse.
MV Al Kuwait returning to Fremantle after Indonesia cattle run — independent monitors record vessels continuing to supply Beirut, Tripoli, Aqaba, Ashdod and Haifa throughout the crisis with no DAFF statement.
The MV Al Kuwait (IMO 9590931) is returning to Fremantle following its Indonesia cattle run — the vessel loaded 17,000 cattle at Darwin on 18–19 April and unloaded at two Indonesian destinations, and is now heading back to Western Australia. Its next voyage remains unconfirmed: exporter Patrick Underwood noted it would go to Kuwait if able, or do another Indonesia run if not. Meanwhile, independent vessel monitoring data compiled by Animals 24-7 reveals that Australian live export vessels continued supplying ports in Lebanon (Beirut and Tripoli), Jordan (Aqaba) and Israel (Ashdod and Haifa) throughout the Hormuz crisis — all ports that have been targeted or are directly adjacent to active conflict zones. The MV Dareen's voyage to Aqaba (which arrived 20 April) is consistent with this pattern. Separately, cattle monitoring sources confirm a live export shipment arrived at Salalah, Oman on 29 March — despite Salalah port being the target of Iranian drone strikes on its oil facilities at the time. Industry data from Beef Central shows March beef export volumes into the seven key Middle East countries were "seriously impacted" by the Hormuz closure. Australia's largest beef markets — Japan and South Korea — absorbed significant volume as Middle East exports fell, but the structural disruption to the Gulf trade lane is stark. DAFF has not issued any advisory, market access notice, or public statement about any of these voyages, any of these ports, or the broader risk profile for Australian live export into conflict-adjacent zones during the crisis.
Royal Navy's UKMTO: Hormuz shipping down 90% — from 130 ships daily to fewer than 10 — 850+ vessels trapped inside the Gulf, 20,000 sailors stranded, 41 incidents recorded since 1 March.
The Royal Navy's UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) centre released its most comprehensive assessment yet of the Hormuz crisis on 1 May. Shipping through the Strait has fallen by more than 90% since 28 February — from ~130 ships daily before the crisis to fewer than 10 per day. Between 850 and 870 major merchant vessels — tankers, LNG carriers, container ships and cargo ships — are clustered in Gulf anchorages, unable to safely exit. Commander Jo Black, UKMTO Head of Operations: "Our first concern is the safety and security of seafarers. There are around 20,000 sailors on ships going nowhere. Crew changes are not happening, and supplies are becoming strained." She warned of growing concerns over seafarer mental wellbeing. UKMTO recorded 41 incidents between 1 March and 27 April, including 26 direct attacks in which ships or crew were damaged — deliberately or by collateral damage such as shrapnel from intercepted drones — plus harassment and vessels forced to turn back. Black described calls from ships under attack as "an absolutely terrifying experience — they're civilians, they're not prepared for this, drones, missiles, small arms fire aimed at their bridge or engine room." UKMTO also warned of resurgent piracy off Somalia. The standard "traffic separation scheme" through Hormuz has been effectively shut down. Occasionally a ship makes it through. Most do not.
Trump tells Congress "hostilities have terminated" — triggers War Powers Resolution 60-day clock reset — claims no US-Iran fire since 7 April, but the naval blockade and dual closure persist.
President Trump sent letters to congressional leaders on 30 April formally stating that "The hostilities that began on February 28, 2026 have terminated," and that "There has been no exchange of fire between the United States Forces and Iran since April 7, 2026." The letters address a critical constitutional deadline: the 1973 War Powers Resolution requires the president to obtain congressional authorisation for military action within 60 days of its commencement. By declaring hostilities terminated, Trump's administration argues the 60-day clock under the War Powers Resolution has been reset and Congress does not need to authorise continued operations. However, the US naval blockade of Iranian ports — which Iran has called a ceasefire violation — remains in full effect. Critics noted the blockade constitutes ongoing economic warfare. Several Republicans, including Senate pro tempore Chuck Grassley, signalled they either want the Trump administration to wind down operations or seek formal congressional authorisation regardless. Trump on 1 May separately said the US "might need" to renew the war with Iran, reiterating on 2 May that he has not ruled out the resumption of strikes. Iran continues to control Hormuz traffic, with the "dual blockade" — Iran blockading the Gulf, the US blockading Iranian ports — still the operative situation. No new round of formal US-Iran negotiations is currently scheduled.
Australian live sheep exports down 93% year-on-year in January–February 2026 — UAE took 66% less Australian lamb in March, the lowest since pre-2011 — MLA 2026 forecast now unreachable.
Market analysis from Mecardo paints a stark picture of the trade impact of the Hormuz crisis on Australian sheep exports. Live sheep exports are down 93% year-on-year in January–February 2026, with fewer than 200 sheep leaving Australian shores in January and the February total of 4,271 head 75% lower year-on-year — by far the lowest on record. Meat & Livestock Australia had forecast live sheep exports to drop 35% in 2026 to 120,000 head, but Mecardo notes that with the Middle East war set to impact the next few months before the northern hemisphere summer moratorium, even that historically low figure is now unreachable. On sheep meat exports (chilled and frozen), the Middle East's market share has fallen by approximately 17% since the start of the year. The UAE — traditionally one of Australia's top five trading partners for lamb — took 66% less lamb in March, the lowest volume in over a decade. Australian lamb exported to the Middle East in March was at levels not seen since pre-2011. Mutton exports fell to their lowest monthly total since July 2022, and were the lowest for the month of March since 2012 — down 46% year-on-year for March and 25% below the five-year average. Much of the mutton decline was driven by China, which took 57% less mutton year-on-year in March, likely reflecting high domestic sheep prices. Lamb exports showed more resilience — only 9% lower year-on-year for March — with most other major markets taking more than last year.
Ireland's Department of Agriculture defends calf export welfare standards under pressure from advocates — governments worldwide are defending live export systems under growing scrutiny during the Hormuz crisis.
Ireland's Department of Agriculture has defended the welfare standards applied to calves exported from Ireland, following scrutiny from animal welfare organisations. The Department said its inspection regime and export standards are "robust" and meet European requirements. The Irish calf export trade — which ships young calves to continental Europe and beyond — has faced sustained criticism from welfare groups who argue transport conditions cause unnecessary suffering. The RTÉ report is notable as an international parallel to Australia's situation: while Ireland's government is at least publicly defending its regulatory position on live export welfare, Australia's DAFF has issued no public statement whatsoever about the Dareen's DAFF-approved voyage into an active conflict zone, the fate of the sheep held at Fremantle for 47 days, or its current regulatory position on Middle East live export approvals. Ireland is defending its standards publicly. Australia is saying nothing.
Iran submits new peace proposal — reopen Hormuz if US lifts blockade and ends war, with nuclear question deferred — Rubio says it's "better than expected" but rejects a Hormuz-only deal.
Iran has submitted a new formal peace proposal — its most substantive offer since the Islamabad talks collapsed on 12 April. The proposal would see Iran reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for the US lifting its naval blockade of Iranian ports and agreeing to end the war, with the question of Iran's nuclear program deferred to a separate, later round of negotiations. Trump's national security team is currently reviewing the proposal. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described it as "better than what we thought they were going to submit" — a significant shift in tone — but said the US would not accept a deal that reopens Hormuz while leaving Iran's nuclear program unresolved: "The nuclear question is the reason why we're in this in the first place." Trump has not yet publicly commented on the offer. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met Russian President Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg on Monday, after which he said Tehran is "considering a US request to restart negotiations." Sources familiar with the mediation process told CNN the two sides are not as far apart as they appear, with intense back-channel diplomacy continuing. The emerging framework under discussion would first restore the pre-war status quo and reopen Hormuz without restrictions or tolls, then address Iran's nuclear program in a second phase. Oil prices rose to approximately $108 per barrel as markets reacted to the stalled talks, up sharply from pre-crisis levels. Hornets traffic through Hormuz remains at near-zero.
UN Secretary-General Guterres: "Open the strait. Let ships pass. No tolls. No discrimination. Let trade resume." — warns prolonged disruption risks a global food emergency for Africa and South Asia.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Monday issued his most direct appeal since the crisis began, calling on all parties to immediately restore free passage through the Strait of Hormuz: "Open the strait. Let ships pass. No tolls. No discrimination. Let trade resume. Let the global economy breathe." Guterres warned escalating disruption is causing a growing global economic and humanitarian shock, with one-third of globally traded fertilisers, 20% of global oil, and 20% of global LNG normally passing through the Strait. He warned that prolonged disruption risks triggering a global food emergency, particularly for African and South Asian countries where fertiliser inputs are critical to the planting season now underway. "The heaviest burden is falling on the most vulnerable nations." The UNOPS Emergency Task Force — modelled on the 2022 Black Sea Grain Initiative — is preparing a verified humanitarian corridor for fertiliser, ammonia and urea shipments, deployable within seven days of a deal. The International Rescue Committee warned of a "ticking food timebomb." UNOPS Director Jorge Moreira da Silva: "The planting season has already started. If we don't get some solution immediately, the crisis will be very significant and severe." Sudan, Somalia, Kenya and Sri Lanka face catastrophic fertiliser shortfalls. Critically for Stop Live Exports, live animals remain explicitly excluded from the UN Hormuz Mechanism — only fertilisers, food and humanitarian goods have been approved for facilitated transit.
Trump extends ceasefire indefinitely hours before expiry, keeps the blockade — Iran attacks three ships in Hormuz on Day 54, IRGC commandos seize MSC Francesca and Epaminondas with 15 Filipino seafarers held.
In a dramatic 24-hour period, Trump extended the US-Iran ceasefire indefinitely on 21 April — hours before it was due to expire — saying Iran's leadership needed time to submit a "unified proposal." The US naval blockade remained in place. Iran responded by attacking three commercial vessels in the Strait on 22 April: an Iranian gunboat attacked and significantly damaged the Greek-owned cargo ship Epaminondas with gunfire and rocket-propelled grenades off the coast of Oman, despite having previously given it permission to cross; IRGC forces seized the Italian-owned, Panamanian-flagged MSC Francesca; and a third vessel was fired upon. Iranian state media released dramatic footage of masked IRGC commandos boarding the MSC Francesca and Epaminondas. The Philippine government confirmed 15 Filipino seafarers were on the seized vessels but said they were "safe and unharmed." Panama's Foreign Ministry condemned the seizures as "a grave attack against maritime security." On 23 April, Trump ordered the US Navy to destroy any Iranian boats caught laying mines in Hormuz. The UK hosted a 50-nation conference on 22–23 April on restoring Hormuz navigation. The White House confirmed it regards Iran's seizure of non-US, non-Israeli ships as not violating the ceasefire. Iran says it will not negotiate under "the shadow of threats" while the blockade continues. Death toll in Iran since 28 February: ~3,400.
FM Penny Wong joins 40+ nation Hormuz ministerial call — Navy Chief Admiral Mark Hammond says the Australian Navy is "ready to open the Strait" — still no DAFF or ministerial statement on live export.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong joined a ministerial call with more than 40 countries focused on restoring passage through the Strait of Hormuz, stating Australia supports "international efforts to ensure" the Strait remains open. This follows Prime Minister Albanese's attendance at the Paris Hormuz summit on 17 April, making the FM-level call a further escalation in Australia's diplomatic engagement with the crisis. Separately, Admiral Mark Hammond, Chief of the Royal Australian Navy, stated on 13 April that the Australian navy is "ready to open the Strait" if the Australian government decides it should do so — the most direct statement of military readiness in relation to Hormuz by any Australian official since the crisis began. Australia now has its Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, and Navy Chief all publicly engaged with the Hormuz crisis — on the diplomatic and military dimensions. Despite this high-level engagement, the Australian Government has not issued a single public statement about the impact of the Hormuz crisis on Australia's live export industry, the Dareen's DAFF-approved voyage through the conflict zone, or the fate of the sheep that spent 47 days in quarantine at Fremantle before the Al Kuwait departed for Darwin.
⚠️ MV Dareen docks at Aqaba Industrial Port, Jordan — Australian cattle and sheep have arrived after transiting an active Red Sea conflict zone with no DAFF statement issued during the voyage.
The MV Dareen (IMO 9074913) docked at Aqaba Industrial Port, Jordan at approximately 20:00 AEST on Sunday 20 April 2026, completing a voyage from Fremantle Port, Western Australia that began on 1 April. Australian cattle and sheep loaded at Fremantle on 1 April with DAFF approval have now arrived in Jordan after transiting the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb strait. The voyage took place during one of the most dangerous periods of the Hormuz crisis: during the Dareen's passage, Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz on 18 April and fired on vessels attempting transit, including two Indian-flagged ships and a French vessel; the US Navy seized the Iranian cargo ship MV Touska in the Gulf of Oman on 19 April; and the US-Iran ceasefire — now expired — was under severe strain throughout the passage. DAFF did not issue a single public statement about the Dareen voyage at any point — not when it departed Fremantle, not when the security situation dramatically deteriorated mid-passage, and not upon its arrival. Whether the animals aboard are in good health, and what welfare assessments have been conducted upon arrival, is not publicly known. The voyage mirrors the MV Bahijah precedent of January 2024, in which DAFF approved a Middle East shipment into a conflict zone and only acted once the vessel was already at sea.
US Navy fires on and seizes the Iranian cargo ship MV Touska in the Gulf of Oman — Iran vows retaliation, calls it "armed piracy" — zero tankers transited Hormuz Sunday.
On 19 April, the US Navy guided missile destroyer USS Spruance fired on and seized the Iranian-flagged cargo ship MV Touska in the Gulf of Oman after it attempted to bypass the US blockade. Trump confirmed the seizure on social media. Iran's military vowed retaliation, calling it "armed piracy" and a war crime. Iran's National Security Council warned it is "determined to exercise supervision and control over traffic through the Strait of Hormuz until the war is definitively ended." Zero tankers transited Hormuz on Sunday. Iran fired on ships attempting transit on Saturday, including two Indian-flagged vessels and a French-flagged ship, prompting India to summon Iran's ambassador in New Delhi. The two-week ceasefire expires Wednesday 22 April. Trump on Monday confirmed no extension is planned: "Maybe I won't extend it, so you have a blockade, and unfortunately we have to start dropping bombs again." He threatened to "knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran" if there is no deal. The US delegation was expected in Islamabad for a second round of talks, but Iran's Foreign Ministry said "no decision has been made" to attend. The IMF warned global growth will take a hit even if the ceasefire holds. Three US aircraft carrier strike groups are now in the region. Hundreds of commercial tankers remain stranded on both sides of the Strait.
Farmers and animal charities jointly demand an overhaul of NSW animal welfare enforcement — NSW Farmers and welfare groups call for criminal powers to be returned to government in a POCTAA inquiry.
A NSW upper house inquiry into the Operation of Approved Charitable Organisations under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (POCTAA) 1979 has heard an unusual coalition of voices — both farmer advocates and animal welfare organisations — calling for criminal enforcement powers to be removed from charities and returned to government. Animal Care Australia vice-president Sam Davis told the inquiry it was time for the state to "bite the bullet" and separate welfare charities from criminal enforcement. "There's no other law that I'm aware of that's enforced by charity," he said. The Animal Defenders Office managing solicitor Tara Ward said that while organisations could act as both advocates and enforcers in civil matters, "the problem is having a private charity enforce criminal laws" — calling it "not acceptable in 2026." NSW Farmers chair Rob McIntosh raised concerns about conflict of interest, noting that charities which lobby for regulatory settings then enforce those same settings — "effectively undermining the integrity of the system." RSPCA NSW argued it remains best placed to continue its enforcement role, with 40 authorised inspectors conducting 10,000+ investigations annually. The inquiry is broadly relevant to the current live export crisis: as DAFF maintains regulatory silence on the Dareen's DAFF-approved voyage into an active conflict zone, questions about accountability and the integrity of Australia's animal welfare enforcement architecture are more pointed than ever.
Hormuz briefly declared "completely open" 17 April — markets surge — Iran reverses within hours on 18 April, with the IRGC firing on a tanker mid-transit and closing the Strait again.
In a rapid sequence, the Strait of Hormuz was briefly declared fully open before being closed again. On 17 April, in connection with the Lebanon ceasefire, Iran's FM Araghchi posted on X that passage for all commercial vessels was "completely open." Trump responded: "Thank you!" — markets rallied, oil prices tumbled, stocks surged. But Trump confirmed the US naval blockade of Iranian ports would remain in force until a final peace deal. Iran's response was immediate: on 18 April the IRGC closed the Strait again, declaring "no vessel should make any movement from its anchorage… approaching the Strait of Hormuz will be considered cooperation with the enemy." Iranian gunboats fired on a tanker attempting transit; a second vessel was hit by a projectile. Iran's parliament speaker Ghalibaf: "It is impossible for others to pass through the Strait of Hormuz while we cannot." The US military confirmed its blockade has now forced 23 ships to turn around since 13 April. Trump accused Iran of "violating the ceasefire" by firing on ships but said US negotiators would still travel to Islamabad for talks. The two-week ceasefire expires Wednesday 22 April. Australian PM Albanese attended the Paris Hormuz navigation conference on 17 April, telling world leaders the Strait "must be fully reopened for all countries" — the first substantive Australian government engagement with the crisis. No mention of the Dareen or live export permits.
⚠️ ALERT: MV Dareen — 32-year-old Panama-flagged livestock carrier with Australian cattle and sheep loaded at Fremantle 1 April — en route to Aqaba via the Red Sea, ETA 20 April.
AIS vessel tracking data from VesselFinder confirms the MV Dareen (IMO 9074913, MMSI 353518000) — a 32-year-old Panama-flagged livestock carrier — was last recorded in Western Australian waters and is currently en route to Aqaba Industrial Port, Jordan, travelling at 14.1 knots with an estimated arrival of 20 April 2026. To reach Aqaba, the vessel must transit the Red Sea and pass through Bab el-Mandeb — a route that remains under threat from Houthi rebel attacks and is adjacent to the Hormuz crisis zone. The vessel operates in the Australia-Jordan live export corridor, the same route used by the MV Bahijah in January 2024, which was ordered to turn back by DAFF after sailing into the Red Sea conflict zone. The Dareen is classified by maritime NGO Robin des Bois as falling within the category of older, lower-classification livestock carriers whose age and structural integrity are a welfare concern in themselves. The current security environment — a fragile US-Iran ceasefire expiring 22 April, a US naval blockade of Iranian ports, active mine-clearing operations in Hormuz, and ongoing Houthi activity in the Red Sea — represents a significantly more dangerous operating environment than when the Bahijah sailed. Australian cattle and sheep are confirmed onboard, loaded at Fremantle on 1 April 2026. DAFF approved this voyage. Whether DAFF has reassessed the approval in light of the deteriorating security situation is not publicly known.
MV Al Kuwait loads 17,000+ cattle at Darwin and sails for Indonesia — the Middle East sheep consignment is abandoned, and the fate of the Fremantle quarantine sheep remains unconfirmed.
ABC Landline reports the MV Al Kuwait — the world's largest purpose-built livestock carrier, 189 metres long with 23,500 square metres of pen space — loaded more than 17,000 head of cattle at Darwin Port starting 1am Friday 18 April, sailing on Saturday night 19 April bound for Indonesia. The vessel would normally be exporting sheep from Fremantle to the Middle East, but with the live sheep trade to the Middle East halted since the Iran war began on 28 February, the Al Kuwait had been anchored off the coast near Fremantle. Loading involved four exporters and cattle sourced from the Northern Territory, Queensland, and the Kimberley region of Western Australia — described as "99 triple road trains of stock" across "594 decks of cattle." A second live export vessel, the Gloucester Express, was also loaded at Darwin Port over the same weekend. The Al Kuwait will unload at two destinations in Indonesia. Its next voyage is yet to be finalised — exporter Patrick Underwood said if the ship can go to Kuwait it will, otherwise it may do another Indonesia cattle shipment. Indonesia is Australia's largest live cattle export market, taking 583,418 head in 2025. Meanwhile, the fate of the Australian sheep that had been held in quarantine at Fremantle for 47 days — the animals at the centre of this crisis — remains publicly unaddressed by DAFF or the Australian Government.
US blockade of Iranian ports takes effect — mine-clearing operations underway — Macron announces a "peaceful multinational mission" to restore navigation as Iran goes to maximum combat alert.
The US naval blockade of all ships entering or leaving Iranian ports took effect at 10am ET on Monday 13 April. CENTCOM confirmed the blockade applies impartially to vessels of all nations, but does not impede freedom of navigation for ships transiting between non-Iranian ports. The UK Maritime Trade Operations Centre issued a formal notice. Mine-clearing operations have begun, with US Navy destroyers in the Strait for the first time since 28 February. Iran's armed forces were placed on "maximum combat alert." FM Araghchi warned regional counterparts of "dangerous consequences" from provocative US actions. Despite the blockade, tankers continued to trickle through — MarineTraffic confirmed at least one additional tanker departed an Iranian port and transited on 14 April. Macron announced preparations for a "peaceful multinational mission aimed at restoring freedom of navigation," with a UK-France conference in coming days. Iran is using the ceasefire to clear debris from entrances to its underground missile bases, per CNN satellite imagery. VP Vance left open the possibility of a second round of talks before the ceasefire expiry on 22 April. Energy Secretary Wright said he expects oil prices to "peak" once "meaningful ship traffic" gets through, anticipated "sometime in the next few weeks." The two-week ceasefire expires 22 April.
⚠️ BREAKING: Islamabad peace talks collapse after 21 hours with no deal on nuclear — Trump orders a US naval blockade of all Iranian ports effective today, Brent jumps 8% to ~$102.
The highest-level US-Iran negotiations since the 1979 Islamic Revolution collapsed on 12 April after 21 hours of marathon talks at the Serena Hotel in Islamabad. VP JD Vance, leading the US delegation alongside Witkoff and Kushner, said Iran had "chosen not to accept our terms." The core sticking point: Iran would not commit to abandoning its nuclear weapons program. Trump later said "most points were agreed to, but the only point that really mattered — NUCLEAR — was not." Iran's FM Araghchi said the two sides were "inches away" from a memorandum of understanding when the US shifted to "maximalism and shifting goalposts." Iran's parliament speaker Ghalibaf addressed Trump directly: "If you fight, we will fight." Within hours of the talks collapsing, Trump ordered an immediate US naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. CENTCOM confirmed the blockade of all ships entering or leaving Iranian ports would begin Monday at 10am ET. The US Navy will also interdict vessels in international waters that paid tolls to Iran. Two US guided-missile destroyers had transited the Strait on Saturday, the first American warships to do so since 28 February. Mine-clearing operations are underway. Brent jumped 8% to ~$102/bbl. Vance left open further talks: "we leave here with our final and best offer." The two-week ceasefire status is now uncertain. Iran is considering the blockade an act of war.
US-Iran two-week ceasefire announced on Day 40 — Pakistan-brokered deal requires Iran to open Hormuz, but the truce is immediately contested by Israeli strikes on Lebanon. Iran suspends tanker traffic.
On 7–8 April (Day 40), Trump announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran brokered by Pakistan, hours before his deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait or face strikes on power plants. Iran's FM Araghchi confirmed the agreement. Under the terms, the US halts strikes on Iran for two weeks; Iran agreed to the "complete, immediate and safe opening" of the Strait and provided a 10-point framework including controlled Hormuz passage coordinated with Iranian armed forces, withdrawal of US forces from the region, and sanctions relief. Trump called Iran's plan a "workable basis on which to negotiate." The ceasefire immediately hit severe complications. Israel launched its heaviest strikes on Lebanon of the war — reportedly killing 250+ — which Iran called a "grave violation." Iran's IRGC suspended tanker traffic through Hormuz in response; only two tankers transited in the first 24 hours. Iran posted that the strait had "entered a new phase of management." Mines are confirmed in the main Hormuz channel. ADNOC CEO Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber: "The Strait of Hormuz is not open. Access is being restricted, conditioned and controlled. That is not freedom of navigation. That is coercion." The dispute over Lebanon's inclusion (Pakistan says yes; Trump and Netanyahu say no) threatens to unravel the deal before talks begin. VP JD Vance leads the US delegation at peace talks in Islamabad today. Iran's delegation includes FM Araghchi and parliament speaker Ghalibaf.
UN Secretary-General launches a "Hormuz Mechanism" task force modelled on the Black Sea Grain Initiative — Iran agrees to facilitate humanitarian shipments, but live animals and livestock carriers remain excluded.
On 27 March, UN Secretary-General António Guterres formally announced a dedicated task force led by UNOPS (Under-Secretary-General Jorge Moreira da Silva), with UNCTAD, IMO, and the International Chamber of Commerce, to develop a mechanism for restoring the flow of fertilisers and humanitarian goods through the Strait of Hormuz. The initiative draws directly on the 2022 Black Sea Grain Initiative — brokered by the UN and Turkey to keep Ukrainian grain moving — as its operational model. Within hours, Iran's envoy to the UN posted that Iran "has decided to facilitate and further expedite the safe passage of humanitarian shipments through the Strait of Hormuz." The EU's special envoy to the Gulf, Luigi Di Maio, also called for the Black Sea model. The FAO estimated fertiliser price rises of 15–20%, with disruption to ~30% of globally traded fertiliser volumes. The World Food Programme warned that prolonged instability could push up to 45 million more people into acute food insecurity. Critically for animal welfare, the knock-on effects on Gulf livestock sectors are severe: the region's intensive poultry and ruminant operations — entirely dependent on imported corn and soybean meal — face acute feed shortages. The UN mechanism, however, is explicitly focused on fertiliser, humanitarian aid and select commercial imports — it does not cover live animal transport. Livestock carriers like the Al Kuwait remain outside any proposed exemption framework.
Hormuz enters its fifth week effectively closed — 24+ vessels struck since 28 February — Gulf livestock feed supply chains collapse, with poultry and ruminant sectors facing acute shortages.
Windward AI's 1 April maritime intelligence report confirms the Strait of Hormuz has entered its fifth consecutive week of effective closure. A total of 24 vessel strikes have been recorded since 28 February. Only 11 AIS-transmitting vessels crossed the Strait on 31 March. Gulf oil loadings (crude, condensate, clean and dirty petroleum products) fell 76% in March compared to February — from 22.2 million barrels per day to just 5.28 million bpd. Of 128 million barrels tracked as loaded in March, most remain in transit or floating storage, unable to exit. For livestock and animal welfare specifically, the impact is severe and worsening. The Middle East Gulf supplies approximately 25% of global seaborne nitrogen fertiliser exports and significant volumes of sulphur — the feedstock for phosphate fertilisers. The region's intensive livestock operations rely entirely on imported corn and soybean meal: Saudi Arabia's integrated poultry sector — where the top 7 producers control 87% of slaughter volume — depends wholly on imported feed additives now disrupted. Iran's own livestock sector faces catastrophic corn and soybean meal shortages. EW Nutrition analysis confirms Gulf countries with 3–6 months of food reserves face acute shortages if the crisis extends beyond Q2 2026. Kpler data shows only five fertiliser vessels have exited the Gulf since 28 February. Urea prices rose approximately 40% since the conflict began. The closure is no longer simply a shipping story — for animals kept at scale across the Gulf, it is a welfare emergency driven by feed supply collapse.
Iran formally announces "non-hostile" ships may transit Hormuz — but only with Iranian permission and a toll of up to $2 million, with Australia explicitly excluded as a US ally.
On 25 March, Iran's mission to the United Nations formally stated that vessels not involved in or supporting aggression against Iran may transit the Strait of Hormuz "in coordination with the competent Iranian authorities." Iran shared the same statement with the International Maritime Organization. The announcement formalises selective transit that has been occurring since early March for nations Iran considers "non-hostile" — including China, Russia, India, Iraq, Pakistan, Turkey and Malaysia. However, Iran has also established its own shipping channel north of Larak Island and is reportedly charging vessels up to $2 million per transit in yuan. On 26 March, Foreign Minister Araghchi confirmed Iran had allowed "friendly nations" to send ships through, but reiterated that vessels linked to its adversaries remain barred. Israel simultaneously killed Commodore Alireza Tangsiri — head of the IRGC Navy and the official directly responsible for the Strait of Hormuz blockade — in an overnight airstrike. Israel's Defence Minister Katz confirmed Tangsiri was "directly responsible for the terrorist acts" blocking shipping. Despite the diplomatic framing, shipping analysts assessed that routine commercial transit remains "unlikely to resume for the remainder of 2026." Australia, as a named US ally, remains excluded from Iran's transit exceptions — the Al Kuwait's Gulf ports are still inaccessible, and the vessel cannot legally depart under DAFF's "no current approvals" position.
US presents 15-point ceasefire plan via Pakistan — includes Hormuz reopening, sanctions relief and nuclear limits — Iran rejects but counter-proposes, the first genuine diplomatic off-ramp of the war.
The most significant diplomatic development of the war emerged in the week of 23 March as the US, working through Pakistan as mediator, presented Iran with a 15-point ceasefire framework. The plan, described by US envoy Steve Witkoff, broadly includes sanctions relief, a rollback of Iran's nuclear program, limits on ballistic missiles, and — critically — the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran formally rejected the proposal but submitted its own counter-proposal via state media. Iranian officials insisted there were no direct negotiations, describing the exchange as an "exchange of messages through friendly countries." On 23 March, comments from Trump about potential talks sent Brent crude falling from ~$114 to $102/bbl. On 26 March, Trump extended his deadline for Iran to reopen Hormuz or face strikes on its power plants by 10 days to 6 April 2026, citing ongoing talks that are going "very well." Iran's parliament is separately planning to formalise fees for ships transiting Hormuz. Despite the diplomatic activity, strikes continued on both sides — Israel launched a "wave of extensive strikes" on Isfahan infrastructure. The IEA has described the current disruption as "the most significant supply shock in the history of the global oil market." The next 10 days — to 6 April — represent the first genuine window in the conflict where a ceasefire, and with it the eventual reopening of Hormuz, is being actively negotiated.
88+ items from 28 Feb – 8 May 2026
India's livestock and food exports to the Gulf are disrupted — 98.9% of India's sheep and goat meat exports go to West Asia, with $11.8 billion in farm exports now at risk.
India's livestock and agricultural export sector has been severely disrupted by the Hormuz closure, with delays and cancellations hitting shipments of sheep and goat meat, fresh and frozen beef, rice, bananas, and other produce. According to the Global Trade and Research Initiative (GTRI), India exported $11.8 billion in agricultural products to West Asia in 2025 — more than one-fifth of total farm exports. The "very high risk" categories — where over 70% of India's exports go to West Asia — include sheep and goat meat (98.9% West Asia-bound), fresh or chilled beef (97.4%), and frozen beef. Approximately 400,000 metric tonnes of basmati rice is reported stranded at ports or in transit. Shipping costs have doubled, freight insurance is prohibitive, and Gulf buyers have suspended new orders. Indian farmers in Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab and Maharashtra are being directly impacted. India has moved to negotiate bilateral transit exemptions with Iran: PM Modi spoke directly with President Pezeshkian, and Iran's ambassador confirmed that some Indian vessels have been permitted to transit the Strait — but livestock shipments remain severely disrupted. The Indian government is considering an emergency relief package for affected exporters. The parallel is direct: Australia, like India, is a major live animal and meat exporter to Gulf markets running through the same closed corridor — and unlike India, Australia has not yet even opened government-to-government dialogue with Iran about passage.
Hormuz records zero AIS-confirmed crossings on 14 March — the first full shutdown since the conflict began, with ~400 vessels backed up in the Gulf of Oman.
14 March recorded the first full day of zero AIS-confirmed crossings through the Strait of Hormuz in either direction — a new low since the conflict began. Windward AI detected approximately 400 vessels holding position in the Gulf of Oman, waiting rather than rerouting. Only three outbound crossings were recorded on 15 March. Selective passage is emerging via bilateral diplomatic negotiation: Iran allowed two Indian-flagged LPG tankers, a Pakistani Aframax tanker, and a Turkish-owned vessel to transit after direct government-to-government talks. Iran's Foreign Minister Araghchi stated the Strait is "open to all except the US, Israel and their allies." On 16 March, the Aframax tanker Karachi — carrying Abu Dhabi crude — became the first non-Iranian commercial cargo to transit with AIS active, described by MarineTraffic as a sign that "select shipments may be receiving authorisation." Brent crude is trading above $105/barrel — more than 40% above pre-war levels. An estimated 1,000 oil tankers remain stranded. Australia, as a US ally, is excluded from Iran's transit exceptions — the Al Kuwait's permitted Gulf ports remain inaccessible.
Pezeshkian sets 3 conditions to end the war — new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei vows Hormuz stays closed — 3.2 million displaced, IRGC and political leadership split now visible.
On Day 13 (12 March), Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian publicly outlined conditions for ending the war: recognition of Iran's legitimate rights, payment of reparations, and firm international guarantees against future aggression. Analysts described it as the first signal of a potential diplomatic off-ramp from the Iranian political leadership. However, in the same news cycle, a written statement attributed to new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei — read by another person on state TV without Khamenei appearing — vowed to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed as a "lever of pressure" and called on countries hosting US bases to close them or face continued strikes. The statement's authenticity and whether Khamenei himself authored it was questioned by multiple outlets; Tehran's ambassador to Cyprus confirmed the new Supreme Leader had been wounded in a strike. The IRGC continued retaliatory attacks on Gulf states, with Iran's military promising it had the capability to wage a long war that could "destroy" the global economy. The UN refugee agency UNHCR estimated 3.2 million Iranians had been displaced — a preliminary figure described as likely to rise. Death toll in Iran now exceeds 1,348 civilians killed, over 17,000 injured. Iran's internet blackout has exceeded 290 hours — second longest ever recorded. Despite Pezeshkian's diplomatic posture, Iran International reported the IRGC continued attacks on Gulf states in defiance of the president's earlier apology, exposing a deepening rift between political and military leadership.
Iranian underwater drones set two tankers ablaze near Basra — 1 Indian crew member killed, 38 rescued — Iraq shuts all oil terminals as the last northern Gulf export corridor closes.
In the most significant maritime escalation since the conflict began, Iranian explosive-laden underwater drones and boat attacks set two foreign oil tankers ablaze in Iraqi territorial waters near the port of Basra on 12 March — the first oil-related strikes in Iraqi waters during the conflict. Iraq's State Oil Marketing Organization identified the vessels as the Safesea Vishnu (Marshall Islands-flagged) and the Zefyros (Malta-flagged). At least one Indian crew member was killed; 38 crew were rescued by Iraqi port vessels. Iraq's Director General of Ports Farhan al-Fartousi announced the immediate suspension of all oil terminal operations, shutting what had been the last functioning export corridor in the northern Persian Gulf. This is the first time Iraq's oil export infrastructure has been directly targeted in the war. Separately, a container ship was struck near Jebel Ali in the UAE, an oil rig was hit off Saudi Arabia's coast, and Oman's fuel storage tanks were struck — bringing the total number of commercial vessels attacked during the conflict to at least 19. Iran's military spokesman warned oil prices could reach $200/barrel if energy sites were struck. The IRGC claimed responsibility for at least one attack, on a Thai bulk carrier, saying the vessel had "disobeyed orders."
DAFF confirms "no current approvals" for livestock export to the Middle East — sheep remain unloaded in Fremantle quarantine and the Al Kuwait has re-docked after days offshore.
In the most significant regulatory development since the crisis began, a Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry spokeswoman has confirmed that there are "no current approvals for the export of livestock to the Middle East." The department said it was "closely monitoring the situation in the Middle East, including the Strait of Hormuz" and "continuing to work closely with industry and international trading partners to assess potential impacts." Australian Livestock Exporters' Council chief executive Mark Harvey-Sutton confirmed the sheep destined for the Al Kuwait consignment have not been loaded and remain in quarantine at Fremantle, directly countering claims by animal welfare groups that loading had commenced. The Al Kuwait, which had been sitting offshore in the days following the 28 February strikes, has now re-docked at Fremantle Port. ALEC said it has been "encouraging members to make sure their contingency plans are strong, and to speak early and speak often to DAFF about any future shipments." The confirmation of no current approvals effectively means the vessel cannot legally depart — a de facto permit suspension, though no formal NOI revocation has been announced. Stop Live Exports wrote to the Prime Minister and DAFF on 2 March demanding formal suspension; as of 12 March no ministerial response has been received.
Robin des Bois "Epic Fury" report #2: 70,000–80,000 animals are in or approaching conflict zones, with 8 vessels still inbound and 5 already unloaded but trapped in the war zone.
Paris-based maritime NGO Robin des Bois published its second livestock vessel intelligence report on the Hormuz crisis on 11 March, revising the total animal count upward to between 70,000 and 80,000 — sheep, goats, cattle and possibly camels — currently in or approaching the conflict zone, along with approximately 400 crew members. Most significantly, the Spiridon II — the same 52-year-old Togolese-flagged vessel at the centre of last year's 2-month welfare disaster in which cattle were refused entry to Türkiye and at least 60 animals died — has left Reni, Ukraine, heading for Beirut with approximately 3,000 cattle on board. She is currently south of Cyprus. Eight other livestock carriers are still heading toward conflict zones: the Freedom, Julia AK, Jersey, Julia L.S., Uranus II, Uranus L (heading Haifa), and Tuleen (approaching Bosphorus for a second Haifa run). Two vessels changed course to avoid the zone: the Balha One (anchored in Tasucu, Türkiye — cattle on board for over a month) and the Karim Allah (unloaded in Misrata, Libya). Five carriers have unloaded but remain trapped in the conflict zone. Four carriers successfully unloaded and exited. Robin des Bois warns that war-risk insurance in the Red Sea is under daily review, with premiums now 10 times pre-crisis levels and insurers potentially extending the exclusion zone.
New Zealand drops plans to revive its live animal export trade — National Party withdraws support, with Agriculture Minister McClay saying "we are not convinced a gold standard of animal welfare is possible."
New Zealand's coalition government has abandoned plans to overturn Labour's ban on live animal exports by sea — a ban introduced three years ago on animal welfare grounds. Animal Welfare Minister Andrew Hoggard told media he could not get Cabinet agreement to proceed this term, citing more pressing priorities. Agriculture Minister Todd McClay then went further, telling RNZ that National had formally withdrawn its support: "We are not convinced that [a gold standard of animal welfare] is possible and so we've said that we won't support that anymore." The NZ ban originally targeted the cattle-to-China dairy herd trade worth approximately $300 million annually. McClay said if a compelling welfare case could be made he would reconsider, but added: "I don't think that is possible — it's not something I think we'll see any time soon." The Greens welcomed the reversal. The decision comes as the Hormuz crisis makes the welfare risks of live export routes to the Middle East undeniable — and as Australia's own phase-out legislated end date of 1 May 2028 remains in place.
Elders market analysis: the Middle East closure halts all sheep airfreight — light lambs fall 25¢/kg in a week, with a WA sheepmeat processor closing indefinitely as exports collapse.
Elders' market analysis published 11 March documents the immediate domestic impact of the Hormuz closure on Australian sheep producers. All airfreight to the Middle East has stopped. Light lamb prices fell approximately 25¢/kg in a single week as exporters scrambled to manage the sudden market closure. The Middle East accounts for 19% of Australia's lamb exports and 27% of mutton exports — with mutton's dependency described as particularly high. A Western Australian sheepmeat processor has closed its doors indefinitely, with the analysis noting that declining kill numbers from three years of heavy flock liquidation, combined with the export market shock, make closures "an unfortunate reality." Elders' advice to producers is to "panic slowly" — noting that alternative markets remain firm, heavy lambs are increasing in value as light lambs are placed on feed, and Australia has a 150-year track record of market diversification. However, the piece acknowledges the disruption is real, immediate, and likely to persist for months. The analysis reinforces SLE's long-standing argument that dependence on a single high-risk export corridor — the Strait of Hormuz — exposes Australian producers, animals and industry to entirely foreseeable and catastrophic disruption.
MP Rick Wilson (O'Connor) tells the House: "Last ship sailed to Kuwait some time ago" — the Middle East war compounds a government-induced live export crisis as the WA flock collapses to 6 million.
In a 3 March House of Representatives debate, Opposition MP Rick Wilson (O'Connor, WA) condemned the Albanese and Cook Labor governments for precipitating the closure of Beaufort River Meats — one of his electorate's abattoirs — as a direct consequence of the live sheep export ban. Wilson stated that Kuwait, Australia's biggest live export destination, is now effectively unreachable, and that "the last ship sailed to Kuwait some time ago." He noted the WA sheep flock has collapsed from 12.7 million in 2022 to an estimated 6 million, with the $20 million transition grant package arriving too late and too narrowly targeted. The debate took place one day after Stop Live Exports wrote to Albanese calling for suspension of the MV Al Kuwait permit — the government did not respond to either the SLE letter or Wilson's remarks on live export.
ALEC confirms no Australian livestock currently at sea in the conflict zone — but Al Messilah, MV Bahijah, Ocean Swagman and Balha One — all Australian-trade vessels — are confirmed in or near the zone.
Australian Livestock Exporters' Council (ALEC) confirmed to Beef Central that no Australian livestock are currently aboard ships in the region, and said it is "working closely with DAFF to consider potential impacts." However, several vessels regularly used in Australian trade are confirmed in or near the conflict zone: the KLTT-operated Al Messilah (Kuwait Livestock Transport, the same company behind the MV Al Kuwait), the Israeli-operated MV Bahijah currently at Haifa port, the Ocean Swagman near Cyprus, and the Balha One en route from Spain to Egypt. The Middle East accounts for approximately 10% of Australia's sheepmeat exports and 3–4% of beef exports. All Gulf ports in the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and eastern Saudi Arabia are suspended. Chilled lamb and grainfed beef exported via Emirates aircraft have also been disrupted by regional airspace closures, with short shelf-life products facing direct trade losses.
Animal rights groups call on European Commission to immediately suspend live animal exports to the Middle East during the Iran war
A coalition of international animal rights organisations has written to the European Commission urging an immediate suspension of all EU live animal exports to the Middle East while hostilities in the region continue. The call mirrors precedents set during the 2024 Israel–Lebanon conflict, when groups including Compassion in World Farming, Eurogroup for Animals, FOUR PAWS and Ethical Farming Ireland jointly petitioned Commissioner Kyriakides to halt shipments to Israel and Lebanon. With Robin des Bois now confirming 70,000 animals stranded across the Eastern Mediterranean and Red Sea, and 13 livestock carriers at or approaching the conflict zone, welfare groups argue the case for suspension is overwhelming. No response from the European Commission has been reported at time of publication.
Robin des Bois: 70,000 animals stranded at sea — 6 livestock carriers already in conflict zone — 7 more vessels still heading into danger
Paris-based maritime NGO Robin des Bois, which tracks livestock vessels globally, confirmed that at least 70,000 cows, sheep and goats exported from South America, the European Union and the Horn of Africa are currently stranded in the Eastern Mediterranean and Red Sea as a result of the Hormuz crisis. At least six livestock vessels are confirmed to be inside the conflict zone, including the Al Mabrouka-10 (Jeddah), Mariona Star and Mayar (Red Sea), Maysora (Suez Canal), Balha One (en route from Brazil via Spain), and Tuleen (approaching Haifa, Israel). Seven additional livestock carriers were still heading toward the conflict zone as of 7 March, including the Galloway Express (Montevideo→Ashdod, off Crete), Al Farouk (Ukraine→Beirut, south of Cyprus), Julia AK (Brazil→Jeddah, off Mauritania), Karim Allah, Norland, Rami M, and Taiba. Animal welfare groups warn prolonged delays at sea dramatically worsen conditions for animals already under stress from extended voyages.
Day 8: Only 3 Hormuz crossings on 7 March — GPS/AIS jamming hits 1,650+ vessels — tug Musaffah 2 and tanker Prima struck
Windward AI's 8 March maritime intelligence report confirmed only three total vessel crossings through the Strait of Hormuz on 7 March, with SAR imagery corroborating the near-total shutdown. GPS and AIS interference intensified sharply, affecting more than 1,650 vessels, with spoofed positions concentrating near Fujairah and the Gulf of Oman. The IRGC claimed strikes on oil tanker Prima and tug Musaffah 2. Selective transit behaviour is emerging — vessels broadcasting AIS messages emphasising Chinese ownership or crew composition are attempting non-Western affiliation signals to slip through. Gulf oil cargo departures fell to 8.4 million barrels per day on 6 March, the lowest of the crisis, down from 30+ million barrels/day pre-conflict. The combination of kinetic threat, GPS jamming and insurance collapse is producing a de facto closure even without a formal declared blockade.
IMO declares humanitarian emergency — 20,000 seafarers and 15,000 cruise passengers stranded — at least 6 crew killed in Hormuz strikes
IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez declared a "humanitarian emergency" after confirming that over 20,000 seafarers and approximately 15,000 cruise ship passengers remain trapped in the Persian Gulf. On 6 March, a tugboat assisting another vessel in the strait was struck, killing four seafarers and seriously injuring three — bringing the confirmed Hormuz crew death toll to at least six since the crisis began. Dominguez called the situation "unacceptable and unsustainable," urging all parties to protect civilian mariners and restore freedom of navigation. Around 1,000 ships remain inside the Gulf with a combined insured value exceeding $25 billion.
ALEC says animal welfare is "highest priority" — working with DAFF to assess impacts — Middle East trade worth ~10% of sheepmeat exports disrupted
The Australian Livestock Exporters' Council confirmed it is "working closely with our exporter members and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry to consider any potential impacts," adding that "the safety of members of our industry and animal welfare remain our highest priority." ALEC said it was "too early to tell" the full extent of impacts given the evolving situation. Separately, DAFF confirmed it was "closely monitoring the evolving situation in the Middle East and was currently assessing the potential impacts to agricultural trade." The Middle East accounts for approximately 10% of Australia's total sheepmeat exports and 3–4% of beef exports. Light lamb prices and Muslim Kill processing were already disrupted at Australian saleyards within days of the crisis beginning, with abattoirs pivoting away from Middle East Kill trade.
China-Iran talks on Hormuz safe passage underway — but 55 Chinese ships remain trapped and Beijing has no leverage to reopen the strait
CSIS analysis using AIS data confirms that between 23–28 February, more than 49 Chinese- and Hong Kong–flagged vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz. Since 1 March, only two Chinese-flagged ships have been observed transiting. Reuters reported on 5 March that Chinese and Iranian officials are in active talks about an arrangement to allow tankers safe passage — but analysts note that even with such assurances, Chinese operators would be taking substantial risks transiting an active warzone. 55 Chinese-flagged ships remain trapped in the Persian Gulf. Despite Beijing's strategic alignment with Tehran, CSIS concludes that China lacks the leverage to shape the course of the conflict even to protect its own commercial interests.
JMIC confirms only 2 ships transited Hormuz in 24 hours — down from average 138/day — neither were oil tankers
The Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) — the multinational naval advisory group covering the Middle East — confirmed that only two commercial vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz in the 24-hour period to Thursday 5 March, down from a pre-crisis daily average of 138 ships. Neither vessel was an oil tanker. JMIC classified the regional maritime risk environment as "critical" extending over the next 48 hours, with "no confirmed indicators of de-escalation." Trump's naval escort pledge and DFC insurance offer have had no measurable effect on traffic. The US Navy has previously told shipping industry leaders it lacks the capacity to provide Hormuz escorts.
Maersk suspends two more major services — Far East–Middle East and Middle East–Europe routes both halted — 147 boxships stranded in Gulf
Maersk announced on 6 March the suspension of its FM1 service (Far East to Middle East) and ME11 service (Middle East to Europe), its local Gulf shuttle services, and the dropping of Jebel Ali from its ME1 Northern Europe service. Xeneta confirmed 147 container ships remain trapped inside the Persian Gulf. Maersk called the moves "precautionary" to ensure crew safety. Analysts at Drewry warned of significant backlogs forming at ports outside the conflict zone as vessels cluster and arrive unplanned, with equipment shortages and rising spot rates expected globally across major trade lanes.
IRGC declares "complete control" of Strait of Hormuz — over 3,200 ships now idle in Gulf
IRGC Navy official Mohammad Akbarzadeh stated that the Strait of Hormuz is under "complete control of the Islamic Republic's Navy," directly countering Trump's naval escort announcements. Ship tracking firm Clarksons Research estimates approximately 3,200 ships — around 4% of global ship tonnage — are now idle in the Gulf, with a further 500 vessels waiting outside in anchorages off UAE and Oman. Pakistan has formally asked Saudi Arabia to reroute oil supplies via the Red Sea port of Yanbu as an emergency measure.
First container ship struck in Hormuz — 138–147 boxships now trapped west of the strait as Houthis threaten Red Sea resumption
The Egyptian-flagged container feeder Safeen Prestige was struck 2nm off Oman while transiting eastbound, causing a fire in the engine room. All crew abandoned ship safely. It is believed to be the first container ship casualty of the current conflict. Meanwhile, an estimated 138–147 container ships totalling around 470,000 TEU are now trapped west of the Strait of Hormuz. Xeneta's chief analyst warns that 14,000 containers per day destined for the Middle East are accumulating globally, forecasting imminent surges in congestion, transit times, and spot rates. Houthis in Yemen have also signalled they will resume Red Sea attacks on commercial vessels.
Known livestock carriers positioned in Middle East region — ALEC confirms no Australian animals currently at sea — but the window for safe passage has closed
Beef Central confirms that several vessels known to transport Australian livestock are currently positioned in the Middle East region, including the Kuwait Livestock Transport-operated Al Messilah, and the Ocean Swagman near Cyprus. Crucially, no Australian livestock are confirmed to be on ships in the region at this time. However, the Australian Livestock Exporters' Council (ALEC) has acknowledged it is working with DAFF to assess potential impacts. With all Gulf ports suspended, insurance cancelled, and the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed, the window for any livestock vessel to reach Australian export markets in Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, or Oman has now shut entirely — an outcome that mirrors the January 2024 Red Sea disaster, but at far greater scale.
War risk insurance cancelled by major P&I clubs effective today — Hormuz now commercially unnavigable for most operators
Gard, Skuld, NorthStandard, the London P&I Club, and the American Club have all issued cancellation notices for war risk coverage in the Gulf, effective 5 March 2026. Without insurance, no commercial vessel can legally or financially operate in the Strait. War risk premiums had already risen from 0.2% to 1% of vessel value per transit — adding hundreds of thousands of dollars per shipment. Marine brokers report some underwriters are declining to offer terms at any price.
First container ship casualty: Safeen Prestige struck above waterline in Strait, crew abandons ship — around 140 container vessels now trapped in Gulf
The Egyptian-flagged container feeder vessel Safeen Prestige (1,740 TEU), owned by Transmar International Shipping of Abu Dhabi, was struck above the waterline 2 nautical miles off Oman while transiting eastbound through the Strait. The attack caused a fire in the engine room. All crew abandoned ship and are reported safe. It is the first confirmed container ship casualty since the conflict began on 28 February. Approximately 140 container ships with combined capacity of around 450,000 TEU remain trapped inside the Gulf.
UK Maritime Trade Operations confirms container vessel abandoned after being hit in Strait — UKMTO issues navigation warning
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations authority confirmed receipt of an incident report for the Safeen Prestige — struck just above the waterline by an unknown projectile, triggering an engine room fire. UKMTO has issued navigation warnings to all vessels in the area. No environmental impact reported at this stage.
Maersk implements emergency freight surcharge on all routes to and from UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Iraq and Oman effective immediately
Maersk has announced an emergency freight increase covering all cargo to and from Gulf ports, effective 2–3 March 2026 depending on destination. The surcharge applies to all cargo not yet loaded, including future bookings. The company is implementing contingency re-routing measures and warns of significant delays on all Middle East corridor services. MSC has suspended worldwide cargo bookings to the Middle East entirely.
Over 150 tankers and LNG vessels anchored outside Strait as traffic approaches zero — Jebel Ali fire, Bahrain and Qatar ports suspended
More than 150 crude and LNG tankers have dropped anchor in open Gulf waters. Jebel Ali in Dubai sustained a berth fire after aerial interception debris fell on the port. Bahrain suspended operations at Khalifa Bin Salman Port. Qatar's Ministry of Transport temporarily suspended all maritime navigation. Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd, CMA CGM and MSC have all ordered vessels to shelter or divert. Approximately 10% of the world's container ships are ensnared in the broader disruption.
Hormuz at near standstill as Brent crude nears $80/barrel — US petrol prices up 22 cents in one week, global supply chain disruption widening
NBC News reports that Hormuz shipping is at a near standstill with traffic barely moving despite Trump's offer of navy escorts. Brent crude is approaching $80 per barrel — up as much as 13% since the conflict began. US average petrol prices have risen 22 cents in one week to over $3.19/gallon. Analysts warn of sustained high energy prices if the closure persists, with cascading inflation effects across food, transport and manufacturing.
DAFF updates contingency plan policy v2.0 — scope widened to cover entire Middle East security situation, NOI revocation power confirmed
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has published Version 2.0 of its contingency plan policy, widening its scope from the Red Sea to the entire Middle East. Exporters must now submit detailed plans covering alternative discharge markets, extended voyage provisions, and ESCAS arrangements. Critically, the policy confirms the delegate may revoke NOI approval at any time if transport arrangements no longer ensure animal health and welfare — the legal power exists to stop the MV Al Kuwait right now.
Stop Live Exports writes urgently to PM Albanese and WA Agriculture Minister Jarvis — no government response received
Stop Live Exports delivered urgent ministerial briefings to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Agriculture Minister Julie Collins MP, Trade Minister Don Farrell, Fremantle MP Josh Wilson, and WA Agriculture Minister Jackie Jarvis MLC, calling for immediate permit suspension, rejection of Cape of Good Hope re-routing, and humane management of feedlot sheep within Australia. As of 5 March 2026, no formal response has been received from any federal government minister.
IRGC officially confirms Strait of Hormuz is closed — any vessel attempting transit will be targeted; crisis timeline from 28 February
On 2 March, a senior IRGC official confirmed the Strait was closed and threatened to target any vessel attempting transit. The crisis began on 28 February with US-Israeli strikes under Operation Epic Fury, killing Supreme Leader Khamenei. Within hours, IRGC broadcast VHF warnings to all vessels. Traffic fell 70% then approached zero. Protection and indemnity insurance was cancelled effective 5 March, making the economic risk too high for most operators to proceed under any circumstances.
Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd, MSC and CMA CGM all suspend Hormuz transits — at least 15 containerships reversed course, Jebel Ali fire confirmed
Lloyd's List Intelligence vessel-tracking data confirms a near-total halt to commercial transits. CMA CGM instructed all vessels to "take shelter." Hapag-Lloyd cited the "official closure by relevant authorities." Jebel Ali in Dubai confirmed a berth fire from aerial interception debris. There is no viable alternative to reaching Gulf ports such as Jebel Ali — carriers will omit calls entirely and divert to least-worst alternatives for onward road transport.
PRECEDENT: MV Bahijah sent into Red Sea conflict zone with 15,000 animals — forced to turn back after weeks at sea, multiple deaths
In January 2024, the live export vessel MV Bahijah departed Fremantle bound for the Middle East and sailed into the Red Sea conflict zone. It was forced to turn back after weeks at sea with animals confined aboard. Multiple animals died during the extended voyage. Animals were unloaded at Fremantle under biosecurity quarantine. The Department of Agriculture had been aware of the deteriorating security situation before departure. The current Hormuz crisis is significantly more severe and geographically total — there is no alternative route into the Gulf.
No updates found for this category.
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