Weekly transits hit a war-high of 125 vessels, yet a fresh IRGC strike on a cargo ship sparks renewed uncertainty in the critical oil chokepoint.
Shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz surged to 125 transits last week, the highest since the conflict began in February, as tankers rushed to clear stored Gulf crude before a 60-day truce expires. On June 24, 62 commercial vessels crossed the strait, the most in a single day since the war started, though still only 53% of last year’s volume for the same date.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) declared Wednesday that all ships must use its northern route and follow Iranian routing instructions. Hours later, the Singapore-flagged container ship *Ever Lovely* was struck by a projectile off Oman, marking the first attack on a cargo vessel since the ceasefire took effect. A U.S. official attributed the strike to the IRGC.
The strait, which handles roughly 20% of global oil traffic, remains a fragile chokepoint with competing authorities and no agreed rules. Shipowners face uncertainty as Iranian-controlled corridors clash with broader maritime norms, threatening the recovery.