Strait of Hormuz: Tanker traffic lulls as US-Iran peace talks dwindle

The number of commercial tankers attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz has slumped further, as more vessels come under drone assaults.

IMAGE: The Strait of Hormuz. Getty Images

A bulk carrier transiting the Strait of Hormuz was struck by an unknown projectile on Saturday, hitting the hull of the vessel, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency reported.

Another tanker was struck by an Uncrewed Ariel Vehicle (UAV) the day before, while attempting an outbound transit from the Strait of Hormuz, the UKMTO reported. “The vessel was subject to minor damage,” the agency said.

Merchant vessels moving via the Strait of Hormuz has stalled again, with only nine crossings recorded on Saturday, according to market intelligence reported Windward. Four tankers went into the waterway on Saturday, according to the data, and five exited it, all of them moving along the northern Iranian corridor.

The development comes after the US threatened to extend its naval blockade of the region for an indefinite period, Reuters reported, citing US defense secretary Pete Hegseth.

A diplomatic breakthrough between Washington and Tehran remains distant, market analysts noted.

“Oil remains supported near $90/bbl by Middle East tensions and attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz,” two analysts from ING Bank said.

The ongoing military standoff between the two nations, alongside the deadlock over the Strait of Hormuz, could push the physical crude market across a critical threshold, triggering severe supply deficits and sharp price spikes, analysts said.

By Aparupa Mazumder

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