After Iran announced that the Strait of Hormuz has been closed again, maritime traffic through this strategically important waterway has contracted sharply.
Data from companies tracking maritime transport movements show that the number of ships passing through the area has fallen significantly. According to Tehran, the decision to block the strait, through which about 20% of global oil and gas supplies passed before the conflict, was taken in response to the United States and Israel violating a temporary ceasefire agreement.
Të lidhura
None found
According to figures from analytics company Kpler, only five ships passed through the strait on June 21, while a day earlier the number had been 26. Of the vessels recorded, three were very large crude carriers, each with a capacity of approximately 2 million barrels.
One of these ships was headed for Japan, while the other two were carrying Saudi crude oil and unrefined fuel. Specialists stress that the statistics may not include every ship, as some operators switch off their tracking systems while moving through the Persian Gulf.
Last week, Iran had decided to lift the blockade of the strait after reaching an agreement with the US to extend by 60 days the ceasefire declared in April, opening the way for broader peace negotiations. But on Saturday, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced the reinstatement of the closure of this maritime route, justifying the decision with Israeli attacks in Lebanon.
