Ship transit through the Strait of Hormuz dropped to just eight vessels on Tuesday, down sharply from the pre-war average of 130 to 140 ships, according to Reuters. Trade analytics platform Kpler noted this was also below the previous ten-day average of about 12 ships.

The decline comes amid ongoing conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran, with diplomatic efforts to end the conflict and fully reopen the strait stalling.

United States President Donald Trump reiterated claims that the US maintains “total control” over the Strait of Hormuz. In a Truth Social post on Wednesday, he stated, “Iran is all talk and no action, the Bully of the Middle East No Longer,” ending his message with, “Praise be to Allah!”

Iran has countered that it will not allow full traffic through the strait until the US naval blockade is lifted, sanctions are removed, and its assets are unfrozen.

In related regional violence, Yemen’s government reported that six people were killed in a Houthi attack on a ship near the Bab al-Mandeb strait. Additionally, oil prices have risen amid attacks that have dampened hopes for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

These developments highlight the ongoing volatility in key maritime routes critical for global energy supplies.

Sources