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A new normal How traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is adapting to war
A new normal
How traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is adapting to war
By Lou Robinson, CNN
Published August 14, 2026
On February 28, the United States and Israel began strikes on Iran, setting off a monthslong war in the region.
Very soon after this, Iran announced it was closing the Strait of Hormuz — a key shipping route through which 20% of the world's crude oil and liquefied natural gas traveled.
The strait remained effectively closed, with just a fraction of pre-war traffic passing through, until an agreement between the US and Iran was reached in mid-June, allowing it to reopen, and traffic increased. But just days later, Iranian strikes on vessels using a route Tehran hadn’t authorized led to the collapse of the ceasefire and traffic dropped yet again.
Iran claims sovereignty over the strait, but the US and Gulf Arab countries disagree. This has created a complicated system of competing routes through this critical waterway.
How are ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz now?
The Strait of Hormuz is no longer simply open or closed, and ships have several options to cross this critical waterway.
Pre-war route
Through the center of the strait
Designated a "danger zone" by Iran on April 9 after mines were laid through the strait's center.
Oman-IMO traffic separation scheme
Oman’s northern coast
Oman says passage through the strait is guaranteed under international law.
Dark or
unknown route
Unknown
Many ships switch off their tracking transponders to avoid detection.
Iran-asserted traffic separation scheme
Iran’s southern coast
Iran demands all vessels use this route and has been charging ships a fee to pass.
Strait of
Hormuz
IRAN
Iranian
route
Pre-war
route
Iran's
territorial
waters
Omani
route
Dark/unknown
route
OMAN
Oman's
territorial
waters
Persian
Gulf
UNITED ARAB
EMIRATES
UAE
territorial
waters
Gulf of
Oman
Afg.
Iran
Iraq
Kuwait
Detail
Pak.
QATAR
UAE
50 miles
Saudi
Arabia
Oman
50 kmSource: The Institute for the Study of War with AEI's Critical Threats Project; Flanders Marine Institute (2026): MarineRegions.org
Before the war, around 100 vessels passed through the strait every day. This has dropped dramatically since the conflict began.
Keep scrolling to see how traffic has adapted to many phases of the conflict.
Oman
Pre-war
Dark/unknown
Iran
Pre-war normal traffic:
around 100 vessels per day
CeasefireMemorandumsignedFebruary 27February 28March 1March 2March 3March 4March 5March 6March 7March 8March 9March 10March 11March 12March 13March 14March 15March 16March 17March 18March 19March 20March 21March 22March 23March 24March 25March 26March 27March 28March 29March 30March 31April 1April 2April 3April 4April 5April 6April 7April 8April 9April 10April 11April 12April 13April 14April 15April 16April 17April 18April 19April 20April 21April 22April 23April 24April 25April 26April 27April 28April 29April 30May 1May 2May 3May 4May 5May 6May 7May 8May 9May 10May 11May 12May 13May 14May 15May 16May 17May 18May 19May 20May 21May 22May 23May 24May 25May 26May 27May 28May 29May 30May 31June 1June 2June 3June 4June 5June 6June 7June 8June 9June 10June 11June 12June 13June 14June 15June 16June 17June 18June 19June 20June 21June 22June 23June 24June 25June 26June 27June 28June 29June 30July 1July 2July 3July 4July 5July 6July 7July 8July 9July 10July 11July 12July 13July 14July 15July 16July 17July 18July 19July 20July 21July 22July 23July 24July 25July 26July 27July 28July 29July 30July 31Aug. 1Aug. 2Aug. 3Aug. 4Aug. 5Aug. 6Aug. 7Aug. 8Aug. 9Aug. 10Aug. 11Aug. 1210% ofusual traffic10 vesselsUS-Israeli strikes begin16crossings37crossings21crossings55crossings25crossings17crossings
Around 20% of the world's oil flowed through the critical waterway.
Vessels came and went freely. No single nation controlled the strait.
Once the war began, Iran announced the closure of the strait and traffic dropped dramatically, causing global oil prices to rise.
Some vessels continued using the usual pre-war route through the center of the strait.
Iranian and allied ships also started using an Iranian route, sailing along the country’s southern coast.
But many ships turned off their tracking, using an unknown or “dark route” to avoid detection.
March 22Trump says the US has been speaking to "a top person" in Iran about a deal. Iran denies speaking to anyone from the US.
March 31Trump claims Iran has asked the US for a ceasefire, and that he would consider it once the strait is open. Iran denies this and says it will not open the strait to enemies.
April 6The US and Iran agree to a two-week ceasefire, facilitated by Pakistan ahead of peace negotiations in Islamabad.
April 11Peace talks in Pakistan end without a deal.
April 12The US impose a blockade of Iranian ports.
Vessels begin using the new Omani route along the south of the strait.
April 16The US and Iran both announce that the strait is open. Traffic increases, but the next day Iran declares it closed again.
Increasing attacks cause a drop in traffic.
May 4Iran establishes the Persian Gulf Strait Authority to manage traffic through the strait.
No vessels cross through the strait on May 7.
Iran says it coordinated the transit of 26 vessels through the Strait of Hormuz in a 24-hour timespan.
Despite the ceasefire, the US carries out “self-defense strikes” on Iranian missile launch sites and boats around the strait.
May 31Trump tells ABC News he believes a deal to reopen the strait and extend the ceasefire with Iran is reachable “over the next week.”
June 16The US and Iran sign a memorandum of understanding which states the strait must reopen.
Traffic starts flowing through the strait, 78 vessels transit on June 24 – the most traffic since the start of the war.
Strikes between the US and Iran begin again, after Iran struck a ship in the strait.
July 9Trump declares the ceasefire “over.”
The waterway is effectively closed again.
Renewed US naval blockade takes effect.
Aug. 2Iran says it is holding talks with Oman about establishing a new mechanism for shipping in the strait.
As of Aug. 12, 2026, in the 167 days since the war began, 3,371 vessels have crossed the strait. That’s around 20% of what traffic would have been before the war.
Vessel crossings since March 1, 2026
Dark/unknown
1,514
Iran
1,338
Oman
232
Pre-war
287
Data as of Aug. 13, 2026.Source: Kpler
Is this the new normal for the Strait of Hormuz?
Iran and Oman have long shared the waters in the Strait of Hormuz, and since 1968 vessels have traveled through a route established by the International Maritime Organization. In 1974, both countries signed an agreement at the United Nations defining the maritime boundaries in the strait.
As Iran exchanges missiles with the US and negotiates with Oman to rethink the long-established routes, shipping must adapt to this new volatile reality. What are the options for vessels trying to use the strait?
Here is a rundown of some of the risks and complications that vessels might encounter as they pass through.
Strait of
Hormuz
IRAN
Iranian
route
Pre-war
route
Iran's
territorial
waters
Danger zone
Omani
route
Dark/unknown
route
OMAN
Oman's
territorial
waters
Persian
Gulf
UNITED ARAB
EMIRATES
UAE
territorial
waters
Gulf of
Oman
50 miles
50 km
Early in the conflict, Iran designated the pre-war route a danger zone. and said it had laid mines in the waterway. Ships have still been sailing through, but it is a dangerous option.
Some ships are still taking a “dark” or unknown route to evade surveillance and attacks. This raises the risk of accidents or collisions and can void their insurance.
The Omani route was agreed upon by the International Maritime Organization, but has been rejected by Iran.
Attacks on commercial vessels since June 17Source: UK Maritime Trade Operations
Ships using this route have been attacked by Iran.
New risks have caused maritime insurance premiums to skyrocket
Maritime insurance to cross the strait is currently between 7.5% and 10% of a vessel’s value — up from 0.25% before the war.
Oil tanker war-risk insurance costs
Pre-war
Current
$345K
$10.3M—$13.8M
Note: Current premium price as of Aug. 5, 2026. Calculations based on a five-year-old VLCC (Very Large Crude Carrier) worth around $138 million.Sources: Lloyds List, Howden Re
Iran says ships should only use the Iranian route and has set up the Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) to collect fees from vessels passing through the strait. The US has sanctioned the PGSA — meaning anyone who pays Iran to pass could potentially face future US sanctions.
Iranian control over the strait could be very lucrative
Iran has reportedly been charging tankers up to $2 million — around $1 per barrel of oil on board. Before the war, 20 million barrels of oil crossed the Strait of Hormuz every day.
Average oil volume transported through the Strait of Hormuz, million barrels a day
21.4
2018
20.0
2019
19.2
2020
19.7
2021
21.9
2022
21.8
2023
20.7
2024
20.9
2025
Note: 2025 data only for the first half of the year.Source: US Energy Information Administration
The route through the Strait of Hormuz is a complicated mess of routes, mines and unknown dangers. What lies ahead for the strait is unclear.
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