At least three tankers, including the Panama-flagged Peace Gulf, transited the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday via a new route through Iranian territorial waters, mandated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). This route between Larak and Hormuz islands has been enforced after the IRGC declared the main shipping lanes "restricted" due to alleged mine risks, effectively shutting the strait to most international traffic following US-Israeli attacks on February 28.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated that it began implementing a blockade of maritime traffic to and from Iranian ports on Monday at 10:00 AM ET (14:00 GMT), purportedly in line with a presidential order from former President Trump. However, tankers not heading to Iranian ports, such as the Rich Starry and Elpis, are unaffected by this blockade, adding to confusion for global shipping as Washington and Tehran issue conflicting navigational instructions in the world's most critical energy chokepoint.

Iranian authorities have warned they could retaliate by targeting ports in neighboring Gulf countries, potentially escalating regional tensions. Since the war began, ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has plummeted by over 95%, with only 279 transits recorded between February 28 and April 12, far below the pre-war average of about 100 per day. Despite a ceasefire taking effect on April 8, maritime activity remains severely depressed, with just 45 ships entering or exiting the strait since then.

This dramatic reduction has caused the biggest-ever fuel supply disruption, cutting global oil and gas supply by 20% and boosting oil prices by approximately 50% since the start of the conflict, with Asian buyers among the hardest hit. According to ship-tracking data, 22 vessels have been attacked in the strait since the war began, including incidents in UAE, Omani, Iraqi, and Qatari waters, highlighting the ongoing security risks in the region.

Source: www.aljazeera.com