Now, weeks after Iran allowed the partial reopening of the strait – under a ceasefire agreement with the United States that largely holds – the sea is calm once again and the fishermen are returning.

One of them, Abdol Rahman, took the BBC across the strait to see up close how the war has affected life in and around Bandar Abbas.

As we sailed through the strait, two container ships seized by the IRGC in April, at the height of the conflict, came into view.

At the time, the IRGC said the vessels had endangered maritime security “by operating without the necessary permits and disrupting navigation systems.”

Despite the ceasefire, the MSC Francesca and the Epaminondas, flagged to Panama and Liberia respectively, have not been released.

Dozens of other cargo ships could be seen on the high seas, awaiting permission from Iranian authorities to cross the strait.

As we approached the island of Hormuz, 8 kilometers (five miles) off the coast of Bandar Abbas, our guide Rahman pointed out an ancient fortress overlooking the sea.

Its weathered red walls are a reminder that control of the strait has been a struggle for centuries. Built in the early 16th century, it was central to the Portuguese Empire’s control over this vital waterway, until 1622, when Portugal was expelled by Shah Abbas I of Persia, after whom Bandar Abbas is named.