In the Strait of Hormuz, nearly 1,600 tankers and commercial vessels remain stranded amid escalating regional tensions and ongoing security threats linked to the conflict between the US and Iran, according to a report by CNN.
The report stated that the US Navy has so far escorted only two vessels through the strategic waterway, one of the world’s most critical energy shipping routes.
CNN estimates that 32 ships have come under attack in or near the Strait of Hormuz since the outbreak of the conflict, leaving at least 10 people dead and dozens injured.
The disruption has intensified concerns over global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies, as a significant share of the world’s energy exports passes through the narrow maritime corridor.
On May 5, US President Donald Trump announced the suspension of Project Freedom, a US-led naval operation aimed at facilitating safe vessel passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump said the move was made pending greater clarity over negotiations related to a potential Iran agreement, adding that Washington had received requests from Pakistan and several other countries regarding the operation.
The latest developments have heightened fears of prolonged instability in one of the world’s most strategically vital maritime chokepoints.
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