Uncertainty Prevails Over Strait of Hormuz’s Accessibility Amid U.S.-Iran Dispute

The status of the Strait of Hormuz remains uncertain following the conflicting reports from the United States and Iranian militaries regarding its accessibility. On Sunday, maritime analysts noted a decline in vessel movement through the strait, though the reason behind it remains unclear.

The Strait of Hormuz is vital for global oil and gas shipping and has become a central issue in ongoing U.S.-Iran negotiations aimed at ending the war. President Trump informed a Fox News reporter of his recent discussions with unnamed Iranian officials, emphasizing the severe consequences of closing the strait.

“You close it and you won’t have a country,” Trump allegedly stated, with Vice President JD Vance leading American representatives in talks with Iranian counterparts in Switzerland.

Iran’s military had previously announced the closure of the waterway, citing U.S. violations of the cease-fire agreement, due to Israel’s military engagements against Hezbollah. The Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps issued a warning to ships approaching the strait about potential security risks. In contrast, U.S. Central Command maintained the position that the strait remains open, and U.S. forces are vigilant in ensuring continued traffic flow.

Despite the standoff, ship tracking data confirmed that vessels ceased attempts to traverse the strait’s northern route following the Iranian threats on Sunday.

“The situation remains fraught,” said Daniel Mueller from Ambrey, noting Iran’s consistent assertions about the strait closure despite the absence of attacks.

Windward, a maritime intelligence company, reported via social media a total of 12 transits on Sunday, marking a decrease from the previous day’s figures.

The U.S. military reported 55 commercial ships traversing the strait on Saturday, a notable high since the war’s outset, yet still below prewar averages of 130 daily transits.

U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright claimed 67 ships passed through the Strait within the past 24 hours, aided by U.S. military guidance via a southern shipping lane bypassing heavily mined Iranian areas. Windward noted ships tend to deactivate their transponders to remain undetected, indicating renewed hesitancy in this unstable passage.

Leo Sands serves as a correspondent for The New York Times’ Breaking News Hub, based in London.