About 15 cargo ships cross Strait of Hormuz in early days of U.S. blockade on Iranian ports

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 19:35:00 +0200

Recent ship‑tracking data indicate that approximately 15 cargo ships have transited the Strait of Hormuz since the United States began enforcing a naval blockade against vessels linked to Iranian ports. The U.S. blockade, implemented as part of heightened tensions with Iran, targets ships entering or leaving Iranian ports while allowing non‑Iranian trade traffic to continue under close monitoring. Maritime tracking firms and U.S. officials report that commercial traffic through the strategic waterway has resumed at a limited but noticeable level, far below pre‑war averages of more than 130 ships per day yet signaling that the strait has not been fully sealed. Some Iran‑linked or sanctions‑affected tankers and cargo ships have also crossed, raising questions about the precision and consistency of enforcement. Analysts note that ship‑position data in the region may be disrupted or masked at times, complicating real‑time assessments. The partial reopening of the chokepoint reflects ongoin