Baghdad: The United Nations confirmed that maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has decreased to four ships per day.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the organization stated in a press release that the number of ships passing through the vital waterway has significantly dropped from 141 ships per day before the onset of the Iranian crisis to only four or five ships currently.

Earlier on Wednesday, the commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy announced that any ship intending to transit the Strait of Hormuz must obtain permission from Iran. This development has raised concerns over the potential impact on global shipping and trade routes that heavily depend on the strait. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint for the global oil supply, and the reduction in traffic could have significant economic ramifications.