Hormuz Traffic Shifts Toward Oman, Tankers Sail with U.S. Coordination

Global ship movement data, cited by foreign media, suggests that Iran may no longer have full control over one of the key corridors of the Strait of Hormuz.

This shift comes as U.S. President Donald Trump insists that the U.S. exerts “full control” over the strait. At the same time, Tehran continues to declare that this strategic waterway remains under its control.

Kpler, a company that tracks maritime traffic using satellite data, radars, and port information, reports that more than 80 percent of the crude oil transported through Hormuz in the past two weeks has passed along the route near Omani waters. This corridor is recognized by the United Nations, while Iran considers its use a violation of the sovereignty it claims over the strait.

The situation marks a significant shift compared to a month ago, when commercial traffic on this route was almost non-existent. According to Kpler analysts, these developments can be seen as an indication that the Islamic Republic has lost, at least partially, control over this segment of the strait.

From August 1 to 19, 236 ships sailed through Hormuz. Only 83 of them used the Iranian corridor, while another 148 passed with their transponders turned off, aiming to reduce the chance of identification and targeting by any attack.

The American news outlet Axios reports that for several weeks the U.S. has been quietly managing the shipping lane near Omani waters. Each night, approximately 15 to 20 tankers move in two columns, one for entering and the other for exiting the strait, under the coordination of a U.S. task force.

According to the United States, this organizational method has allowed the resumption of about 10 million barrels of oil per day in traffic. This amount represents about half the level recorded before the war, but is significantly higher than that of the crisis months.