Data has shown a dramatic reduction in commodity vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend following an exchange of fire between the US and Iran, in violation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the two countries earlier this month.
According to maritime data provider Kpler, only 38 commodity ships passed through the strait on Saturday and 22 on Sunday, reflecting growing caution among ship operators using the strategic waterway , which has remained a flashpoint between Washington and Tehran since the outbreak of war in late February.
At least 124 commodity vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz over the past four days, according to Kpler, roughly equivalent to the number that passed through the waterway on a single day before the US-Israeli assault on Iran and the subsequent disruption, underscoring that shipping traffic remains well below pre-war levels.
The figures include tankers, dry bulk carriers, liquefied natural gas (LNG) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) vessels, but exclude container ships. Wednesday recorded the highest number of transits during the four-day period, with 70 vessels passing through the strait.
Tehran and Washington exchanged strikes over the weekend after Iranian drones targeted vessels in the strait. The US responded with strikes on Iranian military surveillance infrastructure, communication systems, air defence sites and drone storage facilities, prompting Iran to retaliate with attacks on US military sites in Kuwait and Bahrain.
The two commercial vessels caught in the crossfire were identified as the Singapore-flagged container ship Ever Lovely and the Panama-flagged tanker Kiku .
Data on Monday also pointed to continued caution, with around 500 vessels still waiting before entering the waterway.
The slowdown came despite a US statement saying Washington and Tehran had agreed to suspend attacks for the time being, although Iran has neither confirmed nor commented on the claim.
US officials also said on Monday that vessels were free to transit the strait. However, tensions remain high given the fragile nature of the MoU, which is still in its early stages.
It is worth noting that Kpler tracks only vessels with active transponders, meaning additional ships may have crossed the strait with their tracking signals switched off.
Prior to the weekend's exchange of fire, traffic through the Strait of Hormuz had reached its highest level since 1 March, days after the US and Israel launched a joint assault on Iran that killed thousands of people, including senior military officials and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The conflict saw Iran declare the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed, sending oil and gas prices soaring and triggering a global energy crisis, while leaving vessels already in the waterway at risk of attack.
The MoU, signed in Islamabad on 17 June, states that Iran should "make arrangements using its best efforts for the safe passage of commercial vessels with no charge" for 60 days.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has stressed that the strait will remain under Iranian management and that other parties should not interfere, adding that Tehran is implementing measures in line with the agreement.
Araghchi also said vessels must transit through a corridor close to Iran's coastline, warning that any alternative arrangements would "only lead to more complicated situations and delays" in reopening the waterway and would risk further tensions.
Separately, Iranian and Omani officials met on Monday to discuss management of the strategic waterway.
Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi confirmed the meeting, which came amid uncertainty over Oman’s position on the future administration of the strait.
"While reviewing the current issues related to the strait, we exchanged views on the future management," he wrote on X.
Last Tuesday, following a visit by Iranian officials, Iran and Oman announced in a joint statement that they were examining the costs associated with the future management of the strait.
Later in the week, however, Oman said no "passage fees" were planned and announced the opening of a temporary maritime corridor close to its coastline, which it said had been coordinated with the UN.
Iran responded by insisting that the only authorised shipping route remains the corridor running close to its own shores.