Traffic through Strait of Hormuz falls steeply after new US-Iran strikes
BBC News 2026-07-09 14:41:54
Context: Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has significantly decreased following a series of tit-for-tat strikes by the US and Iran, which have raised concerns about the safety of shipping routes in the critical Gulf waterway. The Strait of Hormuz, a vital passage for over a fifth of the world's oil and gas supplies, has seen its traffic dwindle to just 23 tankers and cargo ships on Wednesday, down from 47 a week prior. This development has occurred despite a deal signed on June 17 aimed at reopening the strait and easing tensions between the US and Iran.
Key Facts
- The number of ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz fell to 23 on Wednesday, according to the maritime intelligence firm Kpler, down from 47 a week prior and significantly below the pre-conflict average of 138 ships per day.
- The three ships that were struck this week were using a US-recommended route through Omani waters, which Iran has repeatedly said is not a "safe" route, instead advocating for a separate route through its waters.
- Iran's top military command, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, reiterated that the only "safe" route for the passage of commercial ships and oil tankers in the strait is the route determined by the Islamic Republic of Iran.
- The US and its Gulf allies, as well as governments in Europe and Asia, oppose Iran's bid to control movement through the strait and introduce fees for ships to pass, insisting that passage through the strait must return to being free and open as it was before the conflict began.
- The Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC), a multinational maritime group including the US, had recommended that ships take a different route through Omani waters in the south of the strait, which was used by a peak of 28 vessels on June 25, before the latest attacks.