Key facts
- President Donald Trump claimed a substantial increase in maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
- Data from Kpler indicates maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz remains below pre-war levels.
- Recent transit numbers show a slight recovery, with an average of eight ships per day in the previous week.
- The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint for global oil and gas shipments.
- Trump stated the US will keep its military in the Gulf region 'for a while' after a deal to end the war.
President Donald Trump stated that maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz has increased substantially, without providing specific data. Data from the Kpler maritime tracking platform indicates that traffic levels remain comparable to the previous week, with an average of eight transits per day, and are still significantly below the approximately 120 transits per day seen before the recent conflict. However, Kpler data updated on Wednesday shows eight ships carrying raw materials transited the strait on Monday and six on Tuesday, suggesting some signs of recovery ahead of an anticipated agreement. Trump also said on Wednesday that the United States will leave its military in the Gulf 'for a while' after Washington struck a deal with Tehran to end the nearly four-month war in the region. He further stated that the US would release frozen Iranian funds and lift sanctions once Iran 'behaves,' as Washington detailed the terms of its interim deal with Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.