Shafaq News- Gulf
At least 22 commercial vesselstransited the Strait of Hormuz in the 24 hours before US President DonaldTrump's 4 p.m. ET deadline for the "Iranian blockade" to take effect,according to MarineTraffic data.
The traffic included 14 inboundvessels —11 cargo ships and three tankers— and eight outbound vessels,comprising four cargo ships and four tankers. The volume remained well belowthe pre-war average of about 110 daily transits.
Earlier today, three Liberia-flaggedoil tankers were targeted near the Strait of Hormuz, leaving nine crew membersinjured or missing as military exchanges between the United States and Iranintensified across the Gulf.
Trump announced on Monday thatIranian vessels and their customers would be barred from entering or leavingthe strategic waterway, while vessels from other countries would continue toenjoy "fair" access. He also declared that the United States wouldbecome the Strait's "guardian," later replacing a proposed 20%transit charge with planned trade and investment agreements with Gulf states.
Before the Iran war, the Strait ofHormuz carried about 20% of global oil supplies and remains one of the world'smost important energy shipping routes. Oil prices rose about 2% on Tuesday to aone-month high.
