The United States has asked commercial vessels to transit the Strait of Hormuz only during hours when American service members can provide them with air protection. Since May, Washington has been providing protection for vessels traveling along the southern side of the strait, off the coast of Oman.
Previously, shipowners were given route coordinates and allowed to transit at night, when US military aircraft could fly overhead. However, the rules changed in September, and the transit window was shortened to two specific time periods within a 24-hour period.
Analysts estimate that the change will allow the United States to use its resources more efficiently, as operating a modern US military aircraft can cost between $25,000 and $75,000 per flight hour.
More than 70 commercial vessels have come under attack in the Strait of Hormuz since the military conflict around Iran began on February 28. The change in the transit regime comes as the United States and Iran seek to establish their own rules in the Strait of Hormuz.
This month, a representative of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced that Tehran had established a prohibited zone for shipping east of the strait. On September 9, Iranian military officials also announced that they had struck eight US tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, presenting the move as a response to US attacks on Iranian vessels.
Before the war, about 20 percent of the world’s consumed oil was transported through the Strait of Hormuz.
The reduction in transit hours in the Strait of Hormuz shows that the safety of commercial vessels there is directly linked to the use of military resources. For the United States, providing air protection is not only a security issue but also a costly operation, which explains the logic behind the restricted time windows.
At the same time, the new regime taking shape in the strait should be viewed in the context of the ongoing competition between the United States and Iran for control. Any change here affects more than the passage of individual vessels, as before the war, about one-fifth of the world’s consumed oil was transported through the strait. Therefore, changes to transit rules also have broader implications for international trade.
