Traffic Through The Hormuz Strait Was Recovering After The U.S.-Iran Ceasefire. Then Clashes Resumed

Traffic through the Hormuz Strait decreased again following renewed clashed between the U.S. and Iran, new data shows.

Matt Smith, director of commodity research at the trade intelligence firm Kpler, told CNBC that only 13 ships crossed the waterway on Wednesday, compared to an average of 33 per day over the previous week.

The Joint Maritime Information Center again raised the threat level in the Strait of Hormuz to severe after clashes resumed.

It is the second-highest level in the NGO’s scale, only behind critical. It had been lowered to substantial after the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding to end the war and kick off nuclear negotiations.

The organization said vessels could face “deliberate hostile action” by Iran under current conditions. Tehran this week launched missiles at ships crossing the waterway through a route closer to the Omani coast, which does not approve of and is protected by the U.S. Navy. The country insists it’s in control of the strait following the war with the U.S. and only ships that coordinate with its authorities.

President Donald Trump said he doesn’t “know” whether the U.S. and Iran are set to go back to a full-scale war, but claimed Tehran “badly” wants to deescalate the renewed hostilities.

Speaking to press aboard Air Force one while returning to the U.S., he said that should such a scenario take place, the U.S. would “win it very quickly.”

“They have very little left, and they want to make a deal so badly. They called a little while ago. They want to make a deal so badly. I just don’t know if they’re worthy of making a deal. I don’t know that they’re going to honor the deal. That’s the problem,” he added.

The remarks took place after another round of attacks between the countries. Iran retaliated by targeting Kuwait and Bahrain, which host U.S. military bases.

The Kuwaiti army said it sustained material damages and one person was wounded as a result of the attacks but is on stable condition. Overall, Tehran launched one cruise missile, three ballistic missiles and 10 drones, the country added.

Iran, in turn, said that two railway bridges were hit as part of the U.S.’s attacks. One of them connects Tehran with the city of Masshad, where the funeral ceremonies for killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei are set to end on Thursday.