Strait of Hormuz, one of the key routes for global oil supplies, has practically emptied – only isolated vessels associated with Iran pass through it. Bloomberg reports this, writes UNN.
Details
According to vessel tracking data, as of the morning of April 25, only two small fuel tankers and one coastal cargo ship heading to Iran were moving through the strait. No vessels were recorded in the opposite direction.
The reduction in traffic is occurring against the backdrop of escalating tensions in the region. Iranian forces attacked vessels, while the US Navy intercepted tankers near the maritime border with Pakistan, complicating Iran's oil exports.
As a result, a kind of "bottleneck" for supplies is forming, despite Iran continuing to load oil onto tankers.
Additional restrictions
The US has also intensified sanctions pressure, particularly against Chinese oil refining companies that purchase Iranian oil. This is part of a broader policy of restricting energy exports from Iran.
Against this background, vessels associated with Iran may turn off tracking systems, complicating the assessment of the real volume of traffic through the strait.
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