Hormuz Strait Traffic Slows in Iran War

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has plunged since the Iran war began, with attacks and threats putting commercial shipping at risk, according to AP, BBC and Reuters. Each of the bullet points immediately below have been confirmed by at least two of the three respected sources we curated on this breaking story.

Core Facts

• Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has dropped sharply since the Iran war began in late February, with shipping repeatedly described as severely disrupted and at times near-standstill.
• The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint that carries about one-fifth of the world’s oil supply.
• Despite the disruption, roughly 90–100 ships have still transited the strait in March, far below pre-war levels.
• Commercial vessels have faced repeated attacks in and around the Gulf since the conflict began, with reporting putting the number of ships struck at roughly 16–20.
• Some vessels that do cross appear to be rerouting closer to Iran’s coastline, suggesting negotiated lanes or guidance aimed at reducing the risk of attack.
• On March 11, the Thai-flagged bulk carrier Mayuree Naree was struck by two projectiles while attempting to pass through; the surviving crew were evacuated, and three crew members were reported missing.

Additional Details Reported

AP cited maritime and trade data indicating Iran has continued exporting oil despite the disruption, with millions of barrels moving and China a key buyer of sanctioned crude.

Reuters reported explosive-laden boats appeared to have attacked two fuel tankers in Iraqi waters, setting them ablaze and prompting Iraqi officials to halt operations at oil ports while rescue efforts continued.

BBC Verify described widespread ‘dark’ transits, with ships switching off AIS tracking to evade detection — a tactic that complicates independent monitoring of movements through the strait.

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