Hormuz traffic dips to lowest since May after US, Iranian strikes on ships

Shipping data reveals an alarming decline in vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, falling to its lowest point since May, following a series of strikes by the United States and Iran on tanker vessels. The 10-day average of 10 commodity ships passing through the strategic waterway marks a significant drop from the previous days, with figures exceeding 15 on Friday and nearly 13 on Saturday.

Only two vessels made their way through the strait on Saturday, while six passed through on Sunday, predominantly utilizing the Iranian route. This stark contrast comes after U.S. forces embarked on airstrikes against three Iranian oil tankers on Saturday, including one off the vital Kharg Island oil export hub. The attacks were in response to the IRGC navy's earlier strikes on U.S. warships in the region and the targeting of three unauthorized oil tankers and three U.S. vessels by the IRGC.

The weekend's strikes signify a major escalation in the maritime conflict between the two nations, as reported by the analytics firm Marisks. The downgrading of the strait's traffic underscores the heightened tensions and the potential for further confrontation in this critical international waterway.