Strait of Hormuz Transits Disrupted After Reported Iranian Radio Broadcast

Vessels are avoiding the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global chokepoint for oil and gas shipments, after ships in the region received radio broadcasts claiming to ban transit through the waterway. According to a report from maritime news site gCaptain, the radio broadcasts came shortly after reports of US and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets. Roughly a fifth of the world's seaborne oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) moves through the Strait of Hormuz each day, making it a strategically vital global trade route. 'We are aware of the radio broadcast and are advising all vessels to exercise extreme caution when transiting the Strait of Hormuz,' a spokesperson for the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) told gCaptain. 'We recommend vessels remain outside of Iranian territorial waters until further notice.' The reported Iranian radio broadcast has not been independently verified, and it remains unclear if Tehran has actually implemented any restrictions on Strait of Hormuz transits. However, the unconfirmed announcement has already disrupted shipping in the region, with vessels opting to avoid the strategic chokepoint amid the heightened tensions. 'Tankers are avoiding the Strait of Hormuz and looking to take alternative routes,' said Anoop Singh, head of tanker research at Braemar ACM Shipbroking, according to The Maritime Executive. 'This will add to voyage times and costs.' The Strait of Hormuz has been the site of numerous maritime security incidents in recent years, including attacks on oil tankers, drone strikes, and seizures of foreign-flagged vessels by Iranian forces. The latest reported radio broadcast underscores the persistent geopolitical risks facing global energy and shipping supply chains in the strategically vital Middle Eastern waterway.