Ships attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz faced Iranian attacks Wednesday, bringing traffic through the critical waterway to a near-complete halt. Iran struck the MSC Francesca and the Epaminondas, just one day after zero vessels passed through on Tuesday—the first time since the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran began nearly eight weeks ago. "They are reminding us that their threats to attack ships are genuine, and that's enough to suppress traffic," said Rosemary Kelanic of Defense Priorities.

The strait typically handles about a fifth of global oil shipments, but current disruptions have trimmed roughly 10% from worldwide supply, according to the International Energy Agency. While the U.S. military has struck approximately 13,000 Iranian targets and established a naval blockade on April 13, Tehran retains effective control of the waterway. Iranian-linked vessels continue transiting—around six per day since early March—though the U.S. claims its blockade remains unbroken, with Central Command reporting 29 ships turned back.

Shipping companies face mounting pressure from these unpredictable attacks. Hapag-Lloyd's Anders Boenaes noted that even with potential U.S.-Iran negotiations on the horizon, assaults continued without warning, deepening industry uncertainty. The attacks have pushed gasoline, diesel, and cooking gas prices upward worldwide, adding costs for businesses and consumers alike. With the U.S. Navy avoiding the strait itself, analysts see little immediate resolution to the shipping disruption.