Shipping stalls in Strait of Hormuz after Iran declares key waterway shut

Ship tracking data shows sharp fall in transits as US and Iranian officials hold talks to save fragile peace framework.Shipping in the Strait of Hormuz has plunged following Iran’s announcement that it has closed the waterway once again over Israel’s strikes on Lebanon, according to ship tracking data.A total of 12 vessels crossed the strait on Sunday, down from 35 transits the previous day, an analysis by maritime intelligence company Windward showed on Sunday.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Mourners gather to remember Lebanese conservationist killed by Israellist 2 of 4What are the end goals of Iran-US negotiations?list 3 of 4Ten-man Belgium hold off Iran in hard-fought World Cup drawlist 4 of 4Football fans in Gaza gather to watch Spain-Saudi Arabia matchend of listFive of eight vessels entering the strait had their Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) turned off, according to Windward.“The current traffic profile: dark, sanctioned, Iranian-linked, resembling the late-blockade baseline more than a functioning open strait,” Windward said in a post on X.Maritime traffic in the strait had been showing signs of recovery since US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding on ending the US-Israel war on Iran.Twenty-five vessels transited the strait on Thursday, the highest number since mid-April, according to data from maritime intelligence provider Kpler.Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on Saturday declared the waterway shut, citing Israeli “crimes” in Lebanon and the failure of the US to maintain a ceasefire in the country.US Central Command (CENTCOM) on Saturday denied that Iran had closed the strait, which normally carries about one-fifth of global Oil and Liquified Natural Gas Supplies, saying that safe passage through the waterway remained “intact”, with 55 merchant ships transiting that day.The cause of the discrepancy between the transit figures provided by CENTCOM and commercial ship tracking providers is unclear.