Iran controls the decision-making power regarding passage through the Strait of Hormuz, allowing only two oil tankers to pass daily on average.

While a small number of ships have recently passed through the Strait of Hormuz, hundreds remain stranded—Iran holds the power to decide on safe passage, and a selective passage pattern has emerged. Data from commodities analysis firm Kpler shows that before the conflict, an average of about 100 oil tankers passed through the Strait of Hormuz daily; now, only two are passing daily, with 400 tankers still stranded. JPMorgan analysts stated in a client report that the vast majority of ships passing through the strait are Iranian vessels, and Iran appears to only allow specific ships to pass after verification. "The reality is that the strait is not officially closed, but passage rights are increasingly dependent on political understanding with Tehran," the analysts wrote. Some ships have managed to exit the strait by briefly circumnavigating the waterway between Larak and Qeshm islands near the Iranian coast, staying close to the Iranian coast. JPMorgan analysts pointed out, "This is not a regular route; this move may be to verify ship ownership and cargo, and to allow passage for vessels unrelated to the US and its allies." Reports indicate that some ships, including those carrying liquefied petroleum gas bound for India, have successfully passed through the strait after their governments negotiated with Iran and obtained safe passage permits. In peacetime, approximately one-fifth of the world's crude oil and refined petroleum products are transported through the Strait of Hormuz, and for decades, alternative land-based export routes have been extremely limited. Despite Trump's urging of US allies to intervene and reopen this waterway, the response has been lukewarm. With the war now in its 18th day, the promised US naval escort has yet to materialize. Data from the Royal Navy's Maritime Trade and Operations Bureau shows that since the outbreak of the war until Tuesday, there have been 21 reports of attacks or disruptions to vessels in the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Gulf of Oman, 16 of which were attacks. (Jinshi)