Only a handful of ships transit key oil corridor as warnings from Iranian forces sharply reduce traffic.

By yourNEWS Media Newsroom

Maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has slowed to a near standstill, with only a small fraction of vessels continuing to pass through the critical energy corridor following new warnings from Iranian forces.

According to Reuters, just six ships transited the strait over a 24-hour period, compared to a typical volume of around 140 vessels, reducing activity to well below 10% of normal levels.

The slowdown follows guidance issued by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which instructed ships to remain within Iranian territorial waters near Larak Island. The directive comes amid concerns that surrounding areas of the strait may have been mined during the ongoing conflict.

The Strait of Hormuz serves as a primary route for global shipments of oil, liquefied natural gas, and petrochemicals, making the sharp decline in traffic a significant development for international energy markets and supply chains.

The warning from Iranian forces has created uncertainty among commercial shippers, many of whom appear to be delaying transit or rerouting operations rather than risk navigating potentially hazardous waters.

The disruption persists despite a recently announced ceasefire, underscoring continued instability in the region and raising questions about how quickly normal shipping operations can resume.