Hormuz traffic collapses as Trump declares ceasefire over
Strait near standstill after a second day of US strikes on Iran
Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz was close to a standstill on Thursday after a second consecutive day of US strikes on Iran, with President Trump declaring the ceasefire over.
Iran struck Kuwait and Bahrain with missiles and drones, both of which said their air defences intercepted the attacks, while US Central Command confirmed further strikes on Iranian territory, including the country's top ports, to curb Tehran's ability to threaten navigation. The escalation followed attacks on three commercial vessels transiting the strait on 6 and 7 July, Nakilat's laden LNG carrier Al Rekayyat, Bahri's VLCC Wedyan and the Sinokor-linked VLCC Cyprus Prosperity, with the Al Rekayyat evacuated after an engine-room fire.
Iran's state broadcaster said Tehran would respond to any further attack by closing the strait completely and would treat any state supporting US action as a legitimate target. Ship tracking showed movements largely confined to the Iran-approved northern corridor, with the US-backed Omani route all but empty. The Joint Maritime Information Centre has raised its threat assessment for the strait to severe.
IMO secretary-general Arsenio Dominguez condemned the attacks and urged owners to avoid the strait, warning that close to 6,000 seafarers remained stranded aboard vessels unable to leave the Gulf safely.
