US-Israel-Iran War Latest News: Iran has accelerated the movement of its oil tankers and cargo ships through the Strait of Hormuz as fresh fighting with the United States disrupts one of the world’s busiest maritime trade routes.
The renewed conflict has slowed commercial shipping through the strategic waterway, even as Tehran continues exporting oil and importing essential goods following the easing of US restrictions under a preliminary peace agreement signed in June. The latest developments have renewed concerns over maritime security, global oil supplies and the future of international trade through the Gulf.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest News: Commercial Shipping Through Strait of Hormuz Declines
According to maritime intelligence company Windward, commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz fell for the third consecutive night between July 9 and July 10. Only six vessels crossed the waterway during a 12-hour period, compared with the normal traffic of around 18 to 22 ships seen just a few days earlier.
Windward also reported a sharp increase in so-called “dark transits,” where ships switch off their tracking systems to hide their locations. These undisclosed movements now account for nearly 40% of all traffic through the strait, marking the highest level recorded in the past six days.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest News: Iranian Ships Hug Coastline to Keep Exports Moving
Data collected by ship-tracking company Kpler showed that more than one-third of the 101 vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz over the past three days travelled close to Iran’s coastline.
Most of these ships were either carrying Iranian crude oil to overseas markets or transporting imported goods into Iran. Since the United States lifted its naval blockade on June 18, more than 34 million barrels of Iranian crude have moved through the Strait of Hormuz, according to Kpler. Several of the ships that recently crossed the waterway had previously faced the possibility of being intercepted.
Among them were a US-sanctioned Benin-flagged tanker carrying two million barrels of Iranian crude, two Iranian container ships operated by the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines, which remains under US sanctions, and a Comoros-flagged cargo vessel that was investigated by the United Nations in 2024 over suspected Iranian arms shipments to Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest News: Renewed Fighting Slows Recovery in Gulf Shipping
Although shipping activity initially recovered after the June peace agreement, the latest exchange of attacks between Washington and Tehran has once again slowed maritime traffic.
Shipping analysts said growing uncertainty over security in the Gulf has discouraged commercial operators, particularly after Iran targeted vessels using a US-backed shipping corridor along the Omani coast earlier this week.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest News: US Blockade Relief Helped Iran Resume Oil Exports
Iran’s shipping activity increased significantly after the United States lifted its naval blockade following the June 18 agreement. During the two-month blockade, Iranian oil exports were largely frozen, forcing Tehran to store crude both on land and aboard tankers. The restrictions also increased financial pressure on the country and raised concerns about food supplies and funding for essential imports.
After restrictions were eased, oil that had remained stranded in storage facilities and floating tankers began moving toward buyers and storage hubs, especially those linked to China. At least two Iranian government-controlled cargo ships that had been stranded in Asia for months resumed operations. Two more vessels transporting Iranian iron ore also departed for China.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest News: Food Imports Into Iran Rise After Sanctions Relief
The easing of restrictions also allowed food imports to recover. Although agricultural products had technically remained exempt from sanctions, many international shipping companies had avoided supplying Iran because of legal and financial risks.
According to Kpler, three soybean shipments from Brazil passed through the Strait of Hormuz for Iran during the final days of June. Iran depends heavily on soybean imports to feed livestock as domestic dairy and meat prices continue to rise.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest News: Iran Faces Challenges Finding Oil Buyers
Despite the recovery in exports, Iran continues to struggle to attract international buyers. Although shipments have reached oil transfer hubs near Malaysia, many buyers remain cautious after the United States announced that the sanctions waiver allowing purchases of Iranian crude is no longer valid.
Tom Reed, head of oil market analysis at Argus Media, told The Wall Street Journal that refineries in countries such as South Korea and Japan need additional time to complete legal and compliance reviews before resuming purchases of Iranian oil.
“It’s a bit of a race against the clock,” Reed said. He added that many buyers had become used to purchasing discounted Iranian crude during the sanctions period and are now waiting for Tehran to lower prices again.
Meanwhile, China’s imports of Iranian oil also declined. Ship-tracking company Vortexa reported that China’s purchases fell to around 880,000 barrels per day in June, representing a 38% drop compared with May.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest News: US Warns Iran Over Future Shipping Attacks
Experts have warned that Iran risks triggering tougher action if hostilities continue. Following the latest fighting, US President Donald Trump revoked the sanctions waiver and warned that the US Navy could resume intercepting vessels leaving Iranian ports if attacks on commercial shipping continue.
Mohamed Amersi, an Iran expert and member of the Global Advisory Council of the Wilson Center, urged Tehran not to escalate further. “Iran doesn’t know when and how to stop,” he said. “They should take their win and build on it.”
