Tanker traffic in the Strait of Hormuz has essentially ceased.

CNN reports that tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has once again stalled as the risk of a breakdown in the memorandum of understanding signed between the United States and Iran increases.

"Tank traffic in the Strait of Hormuz has essentially ceased, which reflects the current level of risk more than any statement from Washington or Tehran," said Jorge Leon, head of geopolitical analysis at Norwegian consultancy Rystad Energy, in a report released Wednesday (July 8).

Data from shipping analytics firm Kpler showed that only four oil tankers passed through the Strait of Hormuz that day.

Kpler senior oil analyst Naveen Das told CNN that since the US and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding on June 17, an average of 32 oil tankers have been crossing the Strait of Hormuz every day. This is almost three times the number during the period from the outbreak of the conflict in February to the signing of the memorandum, but is still far below pre-war levels.

Before the Iraq War, about one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas were transported through the Strait of Hormuz.

Source: [Lianhe Zaobao] (https://www.zaobao.com/news/world/story20260708-9334997)