Hormuz shipping traffic capped amid competing claims from US and Iran

Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz dropped below average late in the week due to tensions between the United States and Iran, each country making conflicting claims to control the strategic waterway. The head of Iran’s Basij paramilitary unit claimed on Thursday that the Strait of Hormuz was “under Iran’s control and management”.

The United States, however, stated it could maintain a naval blockade of Iran indefinitely and increase economic pressure as ceasefire talks have been unsuccessful. Despite a slight increase in commodity vessel transits on Thursday, the total remained lower than the monthly average with only nine vessels passing through the strait, according to Kpler data.

Five vessels entered the Gulf while four exited via the Iranian route. Shipping risk remained elevated as Iran asserts the Strait of Hormuz belongs to them. On Thursday evening, two vessels owned by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company were reportedly attacked while transiting the strait, though no injuries were reported. The United Arab Emirates accused Iran of carrying out the attack.

Meanwhile, 19 commodity vessels transited the Bab el-Mandeb strait with their transponders on, showing stability from the previous day. However, it is possible some vessels may have been sailing with transponders turned off, which are not included in the counts.