Out of fear, ships avoid using the Strait of Hormuz route near Oman

The Strait of Hormuz is full of mines (which are gradually being removed); Therefore, to enter and exit, there are two options: sail close to the north coast of Oman or use the navigation route designated by Iran.

Iran really wants ships to use its route - even attacking vessels sailing on the Omani side with drones to make this clear. This is exactly what triggered the recent escalation of attacks on tankers on the route.

Shipping companies appear to be complying with the guidance, at least for now. Of the 22 confirmed passages through the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday (9), only one vessel used the channel on the Oman side, according to Kpler, a company that uses data from transponders and satellites to track ships.

Worth noting: Some ships are turning off their transponders and trying to pass quickly, so it's unclear exactly how many vessels are entering and leaving the strait. However, the 22 crossings mark represents a sharp drop from the approximately 40 to 50 recorded in recent weeks and significantly lower than the more than 100 daily transits that occurred before the start of the war.

"With control of Hormuz still a central point of contention between Washington and Tehran, operators are likely to remain cautious, selective about routes, and more willing to postpone non-essential transits until there is clearer evidence of a de-escalation," Kpler said in a report.

Pause in attacks in the face of diplomacy
The armies of the United States and Iran have paused in the last few hours the intense exchange of bombings that has taken over the Middle East in the last two days.

CNN has learned that diplomatic efforts have been made behind the scenes to ease tensions in the conflict on both sides, according to an American official.

The US has deliberately carried out attacks and then paused to avoid escalation and allow diplomacy to act, the official said.

The country maintains a list of targets as a means of pressure.

USA x Iran: Countries test both sides regarding Hormuz, says expert | WW

Days of intense bombing
The apparent calm came after two days of intense bombing this week.

- First, Iran fired at three commercial vessels on Tuesday (7) in Oman's territorial waters, close to the Strait of Hormuz, according to an American official, who classified the attacks as a "serious violation" of the memorandum of understanding signed with Iran.
- Then, the United States announced the reestablishment of sanctions on Iranian oil sales in retaliation for the attacks. The price of Brent oil rose more than 5% this Tuesday. The move eliminates one of the main concessions made to the Iranian regime in exchange for the reopening of the waterway.
- Centcom (US Central Command) reported via its X profile that the US military carried out a series of attacks on Iranian targets in retaliation for Iranian bombings against three commercial vessels in Hormuz.
- Iran's state media reported that several people were injured by debris from "enemy projectiles" in the coastal city of Sirik.
- The Iranian president, Massoud Pezeshkian, left Iraq, where he was attending Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's funeral celebrations, heading to Iran after the US attacks.
- Iran's Foreign Ministry condemned the US Treasury Department's decision to reimpose sanctions on the sale of Iranian oil, stating that the measure violates the memorandum of understanding to end the conflict.

Iran has already laid mines in the Strait of Hormuz in another war; understand

Source: CNN