Tehran: Iran has once again blocked shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically important global waterway. According to the state-run Press TV, the strait is completely sealed, forcing oil tankers to turn back and retreat deeper into the Persian Gulf.

According to Thai News Agency, just hours earlier, shipping through the Strait of Hormuz had begun to resume following a two-week ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran. Data from MarineTraffic, a platform providing ship tracking services, indicated that the Greek cargo ship NJ Earth and the Liberian-flagged Daytona Beach were the first two vessels allowed to pass through the strait early Wednesday morning, April 8th.

However, tensions escalated significantly after Israel launched a major offensive against Lebanon under the code name "Operation Eternal Darkness," resulting in at least 254 deaths. In retaliation, Iran immediately suspended all oil tanker traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, with the Iranian navy issuing warnings to all ships to avoid attack unless authorized.

According to Kpler, a maritime data analytics company, more than 1,000 ships were stranded in the region as of Tuesday, including 187 fully loaded oil tankers. They estimate that even if shipping returns to normal, it could take more than two weeks to clear all the ships waiting in line from the area. Meanwhile, Iran's Ports and Maritime Organization has issued a safe navigation map and warned all vessels to strictly follow designated routes to avoid the risk of mine damage in the area.