As of now, the Strait of Hormuz remains open to maritime traffic following U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities on Sunday. However, commercial shipping in the region is operating under the highest threat levels in more than two decades.
In retaliation for the strikes, Iran’s parliament passed a motion to close the Strait — a vital trade artery through which roughly a fifth of the world’s oil and gas flows. The move still requires approval from the National Security Council, which has yet to be granted.
At least two tankers were tracked diverting from Hormuz transits on Sunday, while other shipowners sought to minimize time spent in the Gulf.
On Sunday, the Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) raised the threat level for U.S.-linked commercial vessels in the Middle East from “elevated” to “high.”
Ships flagged, owned, operated, chartered, or carrying cargo connected to the U.S. were also advised to avoid the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, further disrupting a second key trade chokepoint in the region.
Iran-allied Houthi rebels threatened on June 21 to resume attacks on U.S.- and Israeli-affiliated commercial maritime traffic if Washington escalated military action — effectively ending a ceasefire agreed in May.
Trade through the Red Sea…