Event details
Ship-tracker Kpler recorded just two vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, August 14 — one grain carrier entering Iranian waters and one empty dry-bulk ship heading out — down from nine on Thursday and a pre-war daily average above 130. The near-halt follows Thursday evening's drone attacks on two Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. (ADNOC) tankers, which the UAE formally blamed on Iran and called 'piracy.' A senior Iranian source said Oman-mediated ceasefire talks have stalled since a June framework collapsed, while US officials said the naval blockade on Iranian ports could continue 'indefinitely.' Brent crude held near flat at $87.02 a barrel and WTI at $81.24, both still up roughly 4% for the week.
With transits down to a trickle and Washington signaling no end date for its blockade, the corridor that carried a fifth of global oil supply before the war shows no sign of reopening; the EIA does not expect Middle East production to near pre-war levels until early 2027, meaning elevated energy costs are likely to persist through the winter.
- Local time
- 5:30 PM Jerusalem time, Aug 14, 2026
- Location
- Strait of Hormuz, Persian Gulf
- Relationship
- Update