-- Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz nearly halted as Iranian forces seized vessels and opened fire, according to a Bloomberg analysis on Wednesday.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps took control of two ships, MSC Francesca and Epaminondas, claiming they tried to exit the strait covertly, the analysis said.
A third vessel was reportedly attacked by the IRGC, according to the Wall Street Journal, cited in the analysis.
At least two Iranian supertankers also challenged a US-imposed blockade, which Tehran said is undermining ongoing diplomatic efforts.
Only one liquefied petroleum gas carrier linked to Iran managed to leave the strait earlier on Wednesday, while inbound shipping activity remained minimal, the analysis said, citing Bloomberg ship-tracking data.
Data showed vessels moving through the strait largely stayed within a narrow northern corridor near Larak and Qeshm islands, a route approved by Iranian authorities, the analysis said.
Iran repositioned two of its oil supertankers, Hero II and Hedy, into the Arabian Sea, where the US has been actively enforcing restrictions on Iranian shipping activity, the analysis added, citing Vortexa.
The US Navy seized an Iran-linked cargo vessel and boarded a sanctioned oil tanker near Sri Lanka, underscoring its operational reach and ongoing efforts to police maritime flows in the region.
President Donald Trump extended the ceasefire despite rising tensions, signaling restraint while negotiations remain stalled and maritime confrontations continue, analysis said.
Blockades could prompt vessels to disable their tracking signals to avoid detection, making it difficult to accurately monitor shipping activity through the strait, the analysis noted.
This limited visibility can later distort data, as transit figures are adjusted higher when ships reappear outside high-risk areas after moving undetected, according to the analysis.