International market services firm Kpler released data on the 10th showing that on July 9, the number of vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz area dropped from 30 the previous day to 22, marking the second consecutive day of declining traffic through the strait.
According to Xinhua News Agency, Kpler said this data includes both commercial and non-commercial ships, with commercial traffic slightly higher than non-commercial. "U.S.-Iran military confrontation has escalated again, undermining market confidence that diplomatic efforts will bring stability to the situation in the near term."
After a memorandum of understanding was reached between the U.S. and Iran, there are now mainly two shipping channels through the Strait of Hormuz: the northern channel controlled by Iran and the southern channel near Oman, where the U.S. military provides navigation assistance. Kpler's data show that, following recent ship attacks near Omani waters, shipping operators continue to prefer the Iranian side channel, with only one vessel passing through the Omani channel on the 9th.
Recently, in response to Iranian attacks on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, the U.S. military has launched consecutive strikes against Iran. In retaliation, Iranian forces have attacked several U.S. military targets in the Middle East.