Renewed tensions between the United States and Iran have caused near-total disruption of shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most critical maritime passages.
According to data shared by Bloomberg and Lloyd's List Intelligence, specialized in maritime information, Thursday saw an unprecedented sharp drop in vessel movement through the strait.
Data indicate that while approximately 130 ships typically pass through the channel daily, only five ships traversed after the recent skirmishes, with large oil tankers' transit coordinated by the U.S. nearly coming to a halt.
This significant decline in shipping coincides with a New York Times report revealing that the U.S. Central Command launched extensive air raids on Tuesday and Wednesday, targeting around 170 military sites within Iran.
According to the report, this operation is the largest of its kind, exceeding the late June strike wave by about 15 times.
The U.S. Central Command stated that strikes hit advanced air defense systems, drone and missile storage facilities, as well as vital logistics structures along the Iranian coast.
The aim of the operation was to "systematically undermine Iran's capability to threaten international navigation."
The U.S. command also dismissed Iranian claims about restricting passage through the Strait of Hormuz to routes dictated by Tehran, labeling them as "false claims."