Strait of hormuz: A sharp decline in shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has been reported, signaling potential disruptions in global maritime activities. Ship tracking data released by Kpler on Monday highlighted a significant slowdown, showing only five cargo ships carrying essential goods transited the strait on Saturday, with a complete halt on Sunday. This is a stark contrast to the 31 ships that were recorded at the beginning of last week.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, this decline follows recent attacks targeting oil tankers and coincides with stalled negotiations between the United States and Iran aimed at resolving ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi emphasized in a local media interview that Washington must comply with Iran’s conditions concerning the strait for maritime shipping to resume effectively.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry further announced progress in regional negotiations, revealing that Tehran and Oman have agreed on a navigation map for the Strait of Hormuz. Ministry spokesman Ismail Baghaei expressed optimism, stating, “Talks between Tehran and Muscat are progressing steadily and positively,” despite what he described as attempts by Washington to obstruct these discussions.

Historically, before the onset of regional conflicts, the Strait of Hormuz was a critical maritime route, with one-fifth of the world’s crude oil and liquefied natural gas shipments passing through it.