Key facts
- US Central Command reported redirecting 94 commercial vessels and disabling four ships since mid-July.
- Shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz decreased by 28% last week.
- A US official asserted the waterway remains open and under US Navy control.
- US forces intercepted Iranian missiles and drones during destroyer transits.
- The Strait of Hormuz is critical for transporting one-fifth of the world's oil and gas.
The United States has reported redirecting 94 commercial vessels and disabling four ships as part of its enforcement of a naval blockade targeting Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz. This action comes amid escalating tensions and follows Iran's restriction of commercial transit through the strategic waterway to its own trade network since a US-Israeli military campaign began in February.
According to U.S. Central Command, American forces boarded an Iranian-flagged oil tanker, the M/T Celestial Sea, on suspicion of violating the blockade. The vessel was searched and directed to alter course. U.S. forces also intercepted Iranian missiles, drones, and small boats during the transit of three destroyers through the strait, subsequently carrying out strikes on Iranian military sites.
Shipping data from Kpler indicates a 28 percent decrease in traffic through the Strait of Hormuz last week, with 77 vessels transiting. Despite this, a senior U.S. official told Al Jazeera that the waterway remains fully open and under U.S. Navy control, with Washington satisfied with current oil and gas flows.
Energy officials have warned that the ongoing disruptions could lead to a global energy crisis, with the International Energy Agency estimating that over 14 million barrels of oil per day have been removed from the market. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint, responsible for transporting one-fifth of the world's oil and gas.
In response to the situation, Iran announced the creation of the Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) to oversee maritime transit through the waterway. The maritime standoff occurs as the US and Iran exchange warnings regarding Iran's nuclear program and the potential for renewed military operations.