Commercial Traffic in the Strait of Hormuz Declines Amid Iranian Attacks

The U.S. military's Central Command reiterated on July 21, 2026, that the Strait of Hormuz remains open for commercial vessel traffic, despite ongoing Iranian attacks on ships. CENTCOM acknowledged that Iran has conducted over 30 attacks on commercial vessels since the onset of the conflict, which it claims has endangered mariners and threatened freedom of navigation. President Trump has threatened retaliation against Iran for attacks on vessels in the strait. However, commercial traffic has reportedly fallen to a three-week low, with only three ships transiting the strait on July 21. Dimitris Maniatis, CEO of Marisks, noted that while smaller local vessels continue to operate, larger international merchant vessels are avoiding the strait due to safety concerns. The U.S. military's support for vessels taking a southern route through the strait is limited to air support, which has not been sufficient to prevent attacks. The situation is further complicated by threats from Iran's Houthi allies in Yemen, who have stated their intention to block Saudi Arabia's access to the Red Sea ports. As a result, at least five commercial vessels turned around near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait following the Houthi announcement. The U.N. reports that 17 commercial mariners have been killed in 61 attacks in the Strait of Hormuz since late February 2026.