Strait of Hormuz Nearly Paralyzed as US-Iran Tensions Stall Shipping

Shipping traffic through the vital Strait of Hormuz has dramatically slowed, with zero cargo ships recorded passing through on Saturday, according to the latest data. This sharp decline follows recent oil tanker attacks and a standstill in negotiations between the United States and Iran, creating significant concern for global energy markets.

Data from the maritime analytics firm Kpler revealed that only five cargo ships transited the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, a stark contrast to the 31 vessels that passed through the previous weekend. The situation escalated after the United Arab Emirates confirmed attacks on three ships belonging to the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, leading to a near-halt in shipping activities in the region. The U.S. has threatened to maintain a naval blockade against Iran indefinitely.

While some vessels may be operating with their identification transponders turned off, the current numbers are far below the daily average of over 130 ships that navigated the Strait before the current tensions. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi stated on Friday that Washington must meet Tehran's conditions for shipping to resume normal operations in the Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately one-fifth of the world's crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) is transported.

Adding to the maritime concerns, traffic in the Bab el-Mandeb strait has also experienced a slight reduction. Since the Houthi movement in Yemen announced a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia on July 20, Kpler data shows 49 cargo ships passed through Bab el-Mandeb last weekend, down from 55 the week prior. Notably, no Saudi oil shipments were recorded in the tracking data.