WANA (Sep 16) – Maritime data indicate a sharp decline in traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most vital oil chokepoints.

 

Only four vessels passed through the strait on Tuesday, down from seven on Monday and significantly below the 10-day average of 18 vessels.

 

The decline comes as U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the United States was helping oil tankers transit the strait and suggested that countries would have to pay for naval escorts after the conflict.

 

Before the war began, daily traffic through the Strait of Hormuz ranged between 125 and 140 vessels.

 

It remains unclear which routes the four vessels used, although most vessels recorded in recent days have traveled through Iranian waters.