Before the war, 100 to 138 ships crossed the border daily, exporting about 20 percent of the world's crude.
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Iran has been continuously obstructing the Strait of Hormuz since the war began. But some ships have been allowed to leave with permission. For example, the Iranian government has recently granted permission to 20 Pakistani ships to enter and leave Hormuz. According to the agreement, 2 Pakistani ships will be allowed to leave Hormuz daily. The Iranian government has developed a strategy to allow ships from other countries, except for enemy countries, to leave Hormuz without hindrance after paying taxes. The US-Israeli and their allied ships are not allowed to leave the Hormuz area. The Iranian parliament is making a law to collect taxes from ships leaving the Strait of Hormuz. According to the latest news published in Al Jazeera, only about 150 ships left Hormuz in March. Whereas, before the war, 100 to 138 ships were moving through the Strait of Hormuz daily, according to the British media BBC, citing the Joint Maritime Information Center. Before the war, 20 to 22 percent of global crude oil and natural gas used to pass through the Strait. But now, Hormuz is deserted. According to data provided by shipping analytics company Kepler, only 5 to 6 ships leave here daily.
Most of those ships are Iranian ships. Some ships are from China. Similarly, 6 Indian ships have also passed through here. There are some Pakistani ships. In the west, ships from the country are stationed in Iranian ports.
Ships crossing the waterway have also used different routes compared to the past. Tracking data from a Pakistani oil tanker passing through the Strait on March 15 showed it was approaching the Iranian coast.
Michael Connell of the US-based Center for Naval Analysis said Iran may have ordered a different route for security reasons.
The US had previously accused Iran of laying underwater bombs in the Strait of Hormuz. That is why not all routes through the waterway are safe.
Iran has attacked at least 20 commercial ships since the conflict began. On March 11, the Thai-flagged bulk carrier Mayuri Nari was attacked by two Iranians as it attempted to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
Three of the 23 crew members are still missing. Two ships owned by the US and Greece were also attacked on the same day.
Arun Dawson of King's College Freeman Air and Space Institute says, "The combination of threats in the Strait of Hormuz, including drones, missiles, fast attack boats and potential landmines, presents a serious challenge."
