Iran allowing more ships through Strait of Hormuz, data show

"Eight vessels, not including ships flying the Iranian flag, were detected in the critical waterway via the vessels' automatic identification systems on Monday, maritime intelligence company Windward said on Tuesday. The number of transits was nearly double the numbers seen in recent days, according to Windward."

"Michelle Wiese Bockmann, an analyst at Windward, said that a growing number of ships have been rerouting via Iran's territorial waters, suggesting that Tehran is allowing permission-based transits to friendly countries. Western-affiliated vessels won't voluntarily come into Iranian waters, but likely Chinese, Indian and others will."

"Traffic through the strait, which normally carries about one-fifth of global oil supplies, has plunged more than 95 percent since the start of the United States and Israel's war on Iran. The effective halt of traffic through the waterway has sent oil prices surging above $100 per barrel, an increase of more than 40 percent compared with before the start of the war."

The Strait of Hormuz has experienced a significant but modest increase in vessel traffic, with eight non-Iranian ships detected on Monday—nearly double recent daily averages. Maritime intelligence indicates Iran is allowing permission-based transits through its territorial waters to friendly nations, particularly China, India, and Pakistan, while Western-affiliated vessels avoid the route. Overall traffic through the critical waterway remains severely depressed, down more than 95 percent since the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran began. This dramatic reduction has caused oil prices to surge above $100 per barrel, a 40 percent increase from pre-conflict levels. The strait normally carries approximately one-fifth of global oil supplies, making even modest traffic changes significant for global energy markets.

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