Hormuz Strait Gridlock: 6% Traffic Amidst Ongoing US-Iran Standoff

The Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway through which nearly a fifth of the world's oil supply flows, has been effectively closed by Iran. The shutdown began on February 28, 2026, and has now stretched into its sixth month. As of August 22, 2026, only four ships pass through daily, a staggering 94% drop from the normal 74 vessels that navigate this narrow corridor.

The closure is enforced by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which requires vessels to undergo vetting and approval processes before transit. The United States disputes Iran's characterization of total control, claiming that limited passages remain possible under American naval oversight.

Iran's Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei has laid out the country's demands, including an end to U.S. military operations against Iran and its regional allies, lifting existing sanctions and the naval blockade, and withdrawing American forces from the region. A June 2026 memorandum of understanding between the two countries was supposed to ease tensions, but it has produced little tangible movement.