Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz waterway has plummeted following clashes between Iran and the US, according to a UK-based maritime data firm.
Lloyd’s List Intelligence reported transit by traceable vessels through the US co-ordinated sea lane off Oman “effectively grinding to a halt” in response to the latest violent confrontation.
Donald Trump warned Tehran the attacks could “get much worse” after the American military carried out a second wave of strikes late on Wednesday, hitting around 90 targets aimed at degrading Iran’s ability “to threaten freedom of navigation” through the narrow Gulf channel.
In retaliation, Tehran fired at Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar, all of which host US forces.
The renewed hostilities, which have seen Mr Trump declare an interim ceasefire deal with Iran over, broke out on Tuesday after Iran targeted three tankers in the strait, which has remained a flashpoint in the fragile truce.
The latest trading of strikes has again caused severe disruption in the waterway, which is a vital oil and gas supply route, as well as casting doubt on securing a permanent end to the conflict, launched by the US and Israel on February 28.
Lloyd’s List in a post on X said: “Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has fallen sharply following the latest escalation between the US and Iran, with traceable vessel transits through the US-co-ordinated Omani lane effectively grinding to a halt.”
In his latest comments, Mr Trump insisted Iran wanted to reach an agreement “so badly”, but added: “I don’t know that they’re going to honour the deal. That’s the problem.”
Iranian deputy foreign minister Kazem Gharibabadi said the president’s remarks “are not a sign of power but an admission of the failure”.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has urged a return to the ceasefire and warned UK household bills would likely be hit unless the situation improved.
The US military has also moved to counter claims by Iranian state media “that transit through the Strait of Hormuz is only permitted through routes designated by Iran”.
In post on X styled as a fact check providing the “truth”, US central command (Centcom), which oversees US military operations in the Middle East, said: “Iran does not control the Strait of Hormuz.
“Since early May, US forces have helped facilitate the successful transit of more than 800 commercial vessels and 380 million barrels of crude oil through the vital international trade corridor.”
However, this represents only a fraction of the traffic before the war, when on average nearly 140 ships a day made the crossing.
Ending Tehran’s stranglehold on the strait, which disrupted global oil and gas supplies and drove up fuel and food prices, had been a key demand in previous negotiations.
However, the initial deal reached between the US and Iran only provides for safe, toll-free passage of the waterway for 60 days, pending the outcome of a final agreement on Tehran’s disputed nuclear plans.
The pact also leaves it to Iran and Oman, in conjunction with other Gulf states, to “define the future administration and maritime services in the Strait of Hormuz”.
In the meantime, Iran has continued to try to exert leverage over the channel, including demanding ships seek permission to transit and raising the spectre of future charges.
