Commercial shipping data collected and analyzed by intelligence agencies and maritime security organizations reveals that Iran and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps have established near total control over vessel movements through the Strait of Hormuz. The shift occurred after the United States halted offensive strikes against targets in Tehran, leading commercial fleets to exclusively follow navigation channels approved by Iranian authorities.
Data compiled by maritime risk research firm Marisks, tracking nearly 80 vessels over a recent 72 hour period, outlines the extent of Iranian operational control in the Persian Gulf. During those three days, 78 commercial vessels navigated visibly through the strait, including 20 ships sailing under the Iranian flag and 58 operating under international flags.
All 58 foreign flagged merchant ships utilized the northern shipping corridor managed by the Iranian regime and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Analysts noted that these commercial operators likely paid transit fees directly to Iranian authorities. During the same 72 hour timeframe, not a single commercial vessel traveled along the southern shipping lane backed by the United States along the coast of Oman.
Researchers from Marisks confirmed the total absence of commercial traffic in the southern corridor. "The only movements near the southern side are local United Arab Emirates vessels and maritime support vessels, not merchant ships," Marisks analysts stated in their assessment.
Maritime intelligence firm Windward verified these tracking results, reporting that an additional seven commercial vessels traversed the strait using exclusively the northern, Iranian controlled transit lanes. The findings indicate a growing reliance on Tehran to guarantee safe passage for international maritime trade as American military activity in the Gulf decreases.
According to industry reports cited by Reuters, international shipping companies are prioritizing operational guarantees from Iranian authorities to avoid potential vessel seizures or targeted strikes during the current pause in military hostilities.
