-- Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remained at below 10% of normal volumes on Thursday, according to a Reuters analysis.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has been directing vessels to stick to a route that passes through the country's territorial waters amidst a two-week ceasefire in the Iran war.
The US has maintained that the ceasefire is subject to the free, safe, and immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, which handles nearly 20% of global oil and gas flows.
IRGC has asked ships to transit through routes around Larak Island when passing through the Strait of Hormuz to avoid potential naval mines, with entry allowed from north of the island and exit just south of it until further notice, the report said, citing Iran's Tasnim news agency, which in turn quoted an IRGC official.
Over the last 24 hours, only six ships, including one oil products tanker and five dry bulk carriers, have crossed the strait, compared with about 140 that normally cross it, the analysis said, citing ship-tracking data. An India-bound chemical tanker was on track to cross the strait, it added.
Over 180 vessels loaded with about 172 million barrels of crude oil and refined products remain stuck in the Persian Gulf, the analysis said, citing Kpler data.
One Iranian-flagged oil tanker and one bunkering tanker have crossed the strait over the last 24 hours, while at least 23 Iranian tankers have reached Asia since Feb. 28, maintaining pre-war traffic levels, the report said, citing Charlie Brown, senior adviser at US advocacy group United Against Nuclear Iran.
Iran is reportedly considering charging a toll for ships to pass through the waterway, with some reports estimating the fee at about $2 million per tanker, Reuters said.