00:01About 90 ships, including oil tankers, have crossed the Strait of Hormuz since the start
00:07of the conflict with Iran. The country has exported more than 16 million barrels of oil
00:12since the beginning of March, according to maritime and trade data, despite the waterway
00:17being effectively closed and Iran claiming it will attack tankers attempting to cross.
00:22Many of the vessels were engaged in so-called dark transits, evading Western sanctions and
00:28oversight, and are likely to have links to Iran. More recently, vessels linked to India and Pakistan
00:35have also crossed the Strait as governments step up negotiations. China remains the largest buyer.
00:41Oil prices rose above $100 a barrel in recent weeks, prompting US President Donald Trump to
00:47urge allies and trading partners to send warships to reopen the route in a bid to bring prices down.
00:53The Strait of Hormuz is a key route for global oil and gas, carrying about one-fifth of the world's
00:59crude oil.
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