A naval coalition downgraded the threat level in the Strait of Hormuz following the agreement between the U.S. and Iran.
Concretely, the Joint Maritime Information Center said in an advisory note that the threat level in the key waterway is now "substantial" and no longer "severe."
The maritime security organization, which coordinates among allied navies and merchant ships, said that vessels should still be aware that "an attack is still a strong possibility" when going through the strait.
However, it went on to note that actions by Iran's Revolutionary Guard have "become less volatile" after the deal. And added that the U.S. Navy still provides "stabilizing oversight." Risk of attacks in the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman are also substantial, according to the coalition.
However, even as the flow of ships and energy is set to resume, there are countries seeking to reduce their reliance of the waterway. One of them is the United Arab Emirates, whose Minister of Foreign Trade said the country is "moving toward having zero Hormuz dependency and that's regardless of whether it's open or not."
"It's going to open and we hope that will happen quickly, but we will not stop the new plan," he added, in reference to the agreement between the U.S. and Iran to cease hostilities and reopen the key waterway.
The UAE began intensifying plans to expand a key pipeline and reduce its dependence of the strait while the war was ongoing.
The country said last month that the pipeline it's expanding to better bypass the waterway was almost halfway complete after accelerating construction.
Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, CEO of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, or ADNOC, announced the development in an interview with the Atlantic Council, saying "right now, too much of the world's energy still moves through too few chokepoints."
The pipeline will double the country's export capacity through the Fujairah port, which is located on the Gulf of Oman beyond the Strait of Hormuz. It is expected to become operational next year. The country is also expanding the ports of Dibba and Khor Fakkan, which are located just outside the strait on the Gulf of Oman coast. It will also build at least one new harbor on the same coastline, as well as rail and road networks and a third new pipeline.
