Iran Conflict — 2026-03-18

Hormuz Reopening Looks Unlikely Without Ceasefire, ~90 Ships Transit Daily

Approximately 90 ships continue to transit the Strait of Hormuz daily despite the conflict, but military analysts assess full reopening is impossible without a ceasefire. CENTCOM confirmed it employed 5,000-pound deep penetrator munitions against hardened Iranian anti-ship missile sites along the coastline. Iran continues exporting millions of barrels of oil despite the war.

Analysis
Prior reporting showed ~8 non-Iranian vessels transiting daily. Today's ~90 figure from Military.com may reflect Iranian selective blockade policy allowing cooperating ships through, rather than a genuine reopening.

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