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Strait of Hormuz: Escalating Threats and Freezing of Shipping Traffic

Published March 3, 2026, 09:09
Strait of Hormuz: Escalating Threats and Freezing of Shipping Traffic

The crisis in the Strait of Hormuz is escalating, with increasing threats and a significant reduction in shipping traffic. Military warnings from Iran coincide with a sharp drop in commercial vessels passing through this critical passage. Although no official maritime directive has been issued to halt traffic, the dramatic decrease in transits indicates a de facto suspension of shipping activity. Specifically, on February 28, 30 inbound and 80 outbound transits were recorded, while by March 3, the numbers had fallen to 1 inbound and 5 outbound. This sharp decline suggests that ships are avoiding the area due to increasing risks. The maritime security company Diaplous confirms the avoidance of the area by commercial vessels. A senior official from Iran's Revolutionary Guard threatened that any ship attempting to cross the Strait would be attacked. "The Strait is closed. If they try to pass, our forces and the Navy will burn them," said General Ebrahim Jabbari. This is the clearest threat from Tehran since the announcement of the passage's closure. The Strait of Hormuz is vital for global energy supply, as approximately 20% of the world's oil consumption passes through it. The disruption of shipping traffic will have significant impacts on international markets, war insurance, and the supply chain.