The Strait of Hormuz – the world’s most critical oil chokepoint – has seen a staggering 95% drop in ship traffic since the Iran war began. New data analyzed by BBC Verify and shipping analytics firm Kpler shows that before February 28, roughly 138 vessels passed through daily, carrying one‑fifth of the global oil supply. Today, only five to six ships a day make the crossing.
A third of those recent voyages are linked to Iran, including sanctioned vessels and ships sailing under the Iranian flag. To avoid attacks, many vessels are now hugging Iran’s coastline instead of using the international shipping lane – a move experts say effectively hands Iran control of the strait through fear of mines, drones, and missile strikes.
Meanwhile, some ships are turning off their tracking systems altogether, making it increasingly difficult to monitor who is moving through the waterway. With crew members still missing after recent attacks and commercial vessels becoming targets, the Strait of Hormuz has become a new front line in the conflict.
🔔 Subscribe for more global security and shipping updates.
#StraitOfHormuz #Iran #GlobalTrade #OilPrices #ShippingNews
Comments