Hegseth Downplays Risk of Sailing Through Strait of Hormuz as Merchant Traffic Sees Small Increase

Cargo vessels and tanker transits through the Strait of Hormuz saw a minimal rise last week, despite Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s denial the waterway is facing a blockage. Shipping analysis Lloyd’s List reported Monday that recent transits still represent less than 10 percent of the average traffic. Lloyd’s List tracked 48 cargo-carrying vessels over 10,000 deadweight tonnage transiting the strait between March 23 and Sunday, up from 34 between March 16-22. The historical average is 138 cargo vessels and tankers in a 24-hour period. Hegseth, speaking to reporters at the Pentagon on Tuesday, said that vessels are sailing through the