Shipping companies ordered tankers to halt or turn around, while some vessels move in the Iranian-controlled northern lane or disable transponders to avoid IRGC risk, according to Bloomberg tracking data reported by a regional channel.
Tracking data from Bloomberg, as reported by a regional channel this morning (Tue 09:53 Jerusalem), shows near-zero vessel traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. Shipping companies have instructed oil and gas tankers to stop or turn around, while some vessels move in the Iranian-controlled northern lane or disable their transponders to reduce the risk of IRGC seizure. The new detail — tankers halting and vessels deliberately turning off identification systems — underscores a deepening safety crisis beyond the already severe traffic collapse.
The Zioneer has tracked the Strait of Hormuz standoff for over five weeks. On June 8 Kpler reported eight vessels crossed over a weekend. By June 20 an analyst suggested the IRGC was turning ships back to avoid mines. On June 27 The Zioneer reported that 70% of traffic had shifted to Omani waters. On July 10 traffic was nearly halted for 72 hours. On July 12 the IRGC announced a temporary closure; a bulletin noted no traffic for three days despite US military assertions, and on July 13 Reuters reported only six vessels transited on July 12. Throughout this sequence, the evidence base evolved from a single channel to multiple newsrooms (Kpler, Bloomberg, Reuters) and from analyst speculation to on-record IRGC statements, but independent on-the-water verification remains limited.
As The Zioneer reported on June 27, approximately 70% of maritime traffic had already bypassed IRGC-controlled lanes by shifting to Omani waters, a trend that pointed to Iran losing practical control of the strait. On July 12 the IRGC announced a temporary closure citing 'foreign intervention,' though the US military insisted the waterway remained open — a contradiction The Zioneer flagged. The present tracking data aligns with the blockade scenario but does not resolve that contradiction.
What remains unverified: the exact mechanism and duration of the traffic halt, whether the IRGC is actively interdicting vessels or commercial operators are self-limiting due to insurance and risk assessments, and whether traffic will resume at any known timetable. No single authoritative source — Iranian, US, or commercial — has offered a comprehensive on-record explanation of the current toll on transits.
7 developments
- StrongIranian outlets claim Strait of Hormuz remains closed, contradicting US denials
- DevelopingSatellite image reportedly shows no traffic in Strait of Hormuz
- StrongUS official says shipping continues transiting Strait of Hormuz
- DevelopingViral footage purportedly shows massive ship jam at Strait of Hormuz as Iran declares total closure
Source and signal
- Open-source intake