Strait of Hormuz Transits Plummet as Ships Reject US Military-Guided Transit Program After Iranian Attacks

Seven maritime security and shipping sources told Reuters that shipping companies are avoiding the US military-guided Strait of Hormuz transit scheme after a wave of Iranian attacks on commercial vessels 1234. Since July 7, five vessels, three crude oil supertankers, one LNG tanker and one container ship, have been attacked in Omani waters, and Iran's Revolutionary Guards claimed responsibility Tuesday for strikes on two Emirati tankers 123. Iranian mining of the strait's traditional mid-channel shipping lanes since the war began February 28 has forced vessels onto two makeshift routes hugging the Iranian or Omani coast, and around nine Greek-operated LNG tankers that entered the Gulf via Hormuz in the past week were stuck inside the strait as Greek security firms Diaplous and MARISKS advised pausing voyages, citing no assurance of safe transit 12. A US defense official said more than 100 vessels coordinated directly with the US military to cross the strait over the past week, with roughly 300 more transiting the wider region 123. The White House and Trump maintain the strait is open to all traffic except Iran, while the Navy-led Joint Maritime Information Center raised its threat rating to "severe" last week 123.