Ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has dropped steeply amid renewed tensions between the U.S. and Iran over control of the waterway. Maritime intelligence firm Kpler reported that only 23 tankers and cargo ships crossed the strait on Wednesday, compared with 47 a week earlier.

The latest decline followed strikes in the region this week in a cycle of attacks between the two sides. The ships that were targeted this week were using a route favored by the U.S. that runs through Omani waters, while Iran has repeatedly argued that the only “safe” route is one that passes through its own territory.

The strait is a critical chokepoint for global trade, carrying more than a fifth of the world’s oil and gas supplies, alongside fertiliser and other goods. Before the latest conflict flare-up, the Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) reported an average of 138 ships crossing per day, but after the conflict began traffic fell to only a handful of ships daily.

A signed U.S.–Iran deal initially raised traffic levels after the worst disruption, with crossings peaking at 72 on June 24. However, subsequent violence triggered another drop, and analysts described the situation as likely to keep fluctuating as the U.S. and Iran trade blows and shipping companies adjust routes and risk