Shipping traffic falls further in Strait of Hormuz as US, Iran compete over claims to control

What Happened

Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz dropped below the monthly daily average of 12 vessels, with nine transits recorded on Thursday according to Kpler data. The head of the Iranian Basij paramilitary unit asserted that the waterway is under Iran's control and management. Concurrently, the United States stated it maintains the capacity to enforce a naval blockade of Iran indefinitely and intends to increase economic pressure following the collapse of ceasefire negotiations. The United Arab Emirates reported that two vessels belonging to the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company were attacked while transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday evening, an incident the UAE attributed to Iranian forces.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical global maritime chokepoint for energy exports. Competing claims of control between the United States and Iran, combined with reported attacks on commercial vessels, increase the risk of maritime disruption and potential escalation in the Persian Gulf.

Watch For

Monitor Kpler shipping data for further fluctuations in vessel transit volumes and watch for additional reports from the United Arab Emirates or international maritime security agencies regarding the attribution and impact of the reported attacks on the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company vessels.