The United States struck a sanctioned oil tanker near Iran’s main export terminal overnight, marking the fifth consecutive day of military strikes against Iranian targets.
The attack on a commercial vessel transiting the waterway has further deterred maritime traffic, with commercial vessel movements through the Strait of Hormuz dropping to just five ships over the weekend.
This sharp decline in transit volume follows a previous incident on Saturday where another vessel was struck, signaling that maritime operators are increasingly avoiding the chokepoint amid renewed hostilities.
The direct targeting of shipping infrastructure and vessels represents a significant escalation in the conflict, moving beyond military installations to the logistical arteries of global energy trade.
With daily tanker traffic slowing markedly since July 10, the disruption is beginning to bite into supply chains.
The dwindling flow of crude and LNG through the Strait is likely to sustain upward pressure on energy prices, as markets price in the growing probability of sustained supply constraints.