{
  "id": 2935096,
  "title": "Strait of Hormuz traffic plunges as Iran, US blockades restrict energy shipments",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/strait-of-hormuz-traffic-plunges-as-iran-us-blockades-restrict-energy",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-24T04:08:16.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Jerusalem Post",
    "slug": "jerusalem-post",
    "url": "https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-906376"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Strait of Hormuz experienced a significant drop in vessel traffic over the weekend, with shipping data indicating fewer than 20 commodity vessels transited the chokepoint, according to reports released on Monday. The decline in traffic is attributed to Iranian and US blockades restricting passage for energy shipments through the critical route. On Sunday, four vessels crossed the strait, followed by 13 on Saturday. However, the exact number may fluctuate as some ships have turned off their transponders while passing through. This compares to the 16 transits recorded on Friday, with two empty Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) entering the Gulf, bound for Iraq and Bahrain respectively. A VLCC carrying 2 million barrels of Emirati crude exited the strait on Thursday. Over the past three days, eight Very Large Gas Carriers transited the strait, six of them entering empty while the others carried LPG loaded from Iran and exited the Gulf. Overall, traffic volumes remained suppressed throughout the week of August 21, with vessel aborts and route changes to north of the strait due to attacks. The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency reported a total of 89 vessels exiting and 103 entering the strait during the seven-day period. Traffic levels continue to be well below pre-conflict baselines, with AIS-detected transits roughly 90% lower than normal and declining since a peak in mid-June. Tanker traffic, making up 45% of total movement, remains dominant, with 56% of tankers carrying crude oil, oil products, or chemicals and the remaining 24% being LPG carriers. Since July 6, the UKMTO has documented 23 incidents of projectile strikes, causing bridge, engine-room, and structural damage to vessels in the strait and its vicinity. In the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, 24 commodity vessels sailed on Sunday, a decrease from Saturday's 32 vessels, which was an increase from the 22 vessels on Friday.",
  "summary": "A total of 89 vessels exited the strait while 103 entered over the seven-day period, the report, based on Automatic Identification System (AIS) data, showed.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The National UAE",
        "title": "Energy demand accelerating despite Iran war, Mitsubishi Power chief says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/energy-demand-accelerating-despite-iran-war-mitsubishi-power-chief",
        "published": "2026-08-24T03:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}