US officials maintain the Strait of Hormuz is open, but major international commercial shipping has effectively stopped. CENTCOM says Iran has attacked commercial vessels more than 30 times since the current round of hostilities began. Bahrain-based maritime information center data showed transits through the strait fell to a near three‑week low, with only three merchant ships tracked on Tuesday. Marisks’ CEO said US forces can provide only limited aerial cover and cannot guarantee safe passage,

US officials maintain the Strait of Hormuz is open, but major international commercial shipping has effectively stopped. CENTCOM says Iran has attacked commercial vessels more than 30 times since the current round of hostilities began. Bahrain-based maritime information center data showed transits through the strait fell to a near three‑week low, with only three merchant ships tracked on Tuesday. Marisks’ CEO said US forces can provide only limited aerial cover and cannot guarantee safe passage, and shipowners and crews are largely unwilling to risk transit. Iran-backed Houthi threats to block Saudi exports via the Red Sea are extending shipping risk toward the Bab al‑Mandeb.