Iran Limits Strait of Hormuz Traffic to Two Tankers Daily, 400 Vessels Stranded

Iran has restricted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz to approximately two tankers per day, leaving roughly 400 vessels stranded, compared with a pre-conflict average of about 100 tankers daily, data from commodity analytics firm Kpler show. Iran retains effective control over which vessels can transit, applying a selective release pattern and often allowing passage only after verification, with the vast majority of ships now transiting being Iranian, JPMorgan analysts said in a note cited by Odaily Planet Daily. Some ships briefly detour along a non-standard route between Iran's Larak and Qeshm islands, apparently to allow checks on ownership and cargo so that only vessels not tied to the United States and its allies proceed, while other tankers, including liquefied petroleum gas carriers bound for India, have secured safe passage after their governments negotiated with Tehran. UK Maritime Trade Operations data show 21 vessel-related incidents, including 16 attacks, in the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Gulf of Oman since the conflict began; the chokepoint normally handles about one-fifth of global crude and refined oil shipments and has few land-based export alternatives.