Just under 100 ships have passed through the Strait of Hormuz since the start of March, according to data analysed by BBC Verify, despite periodic attacks on shipping in the area by Iranian forces.
While some energy and everyday goods are still moving through one of the world's busiest shipping lanes, daily traffic is down about 95% since the Iran war began on 28 February.
Before the war, about 138 ships passed through the strait each day according to the Joint Maritime Information Centre, carrying one fifth of the global oil supply.
The data provided by shipping analysts Kpler shows 99 vessels passing the narrow strait so far this month, an average of just 5-6 vessels a day.
Our analysis indicates that about a third of these recent crossings were made by ships with connections to Iran.
These include 14 vessels sailing under Iran's flag and others under sanctions due to suspected links to Tehran's oil trade.
Some ships successfully crossing the strait appear to be taking a longer route than usual.
Tracking data for a Pakistan-flagged oil tanker suggests it sailed close to the Iranian coast on its passage through the strait on 15 March, rather than the more widely used route through the middle.
Since the conflict began we have verified 20 commercial vessels attacked off the Iranian coast, not all of them in the direct vicinity of the Hormuz Strait.
The Thai-flagged bulk carrier Mayuree Naree was struck by two projectiles while attempting to pass through on 11 March.
Three of the 23 crew members remain missing, believed to have been trapped in the engine room when the ship was hit.
The ship’s owners told BBC Verify the surviving crew were traumatised at sea when they were hit by two explosions.
One person died in the attack while the ship was anchored off Iraq. All 28 crew members were forced to jump into the water to escape the burning ship.
By forcing vessels to reroute, ships are entering Iran's territorial waters and Tehran's maritime rules, raising significant concerns over maritime safety and global supply chains.
Tracking challenges are exacerbated as many ships, appearing to evade detection, deliberately switch off their AIS tracking systems as they enter the Gulf of Oman, complicating monitoring efforts.


















