Timeline

The disruption had become materially visible in upstream oil production. Reuters reported Iraqi output collapsing as storage filled and tankers were unable to leave through Hormuz, underscoring that the blockage was now feeding directly into physical supply constraints.

By the eighth day of the war, the crisis had become entrenched. The conflict was still expanding, while the effects on shipping, regional security and energy markets remained severe.

Tanker traffic through Hormuz had effectively collapsed. Data showed daily tanker passages had fallen from normal pre-crisis levels to zero, confirming that the Strait was no longer functioning as a normal oil transit route.

Shipping disruption deepened as more tankers came under attack and Iraq's production cuts grew. Commercial caution intensified and the Strait's role as a viable transit corridor continued to deteriorate.

By the fifth day of the conflict, the crisis had widened across the region while traffic through Hormuz remained severely disrupted. The conflict was no longer a short military exchange but a broader regional shock.

The economic impact of the disruption became clearer as Iraq began cutting oil output because tankers could no longer move freely through Hormuz. The crisis was now affecting real energy flows, not just market sentiment.

Iran escalated the situation by explicitly threatening ships attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz. At this point, the crisis shifted from military confrontation to a direct threat against one of the world's most important shipping lanes.

The maritime phase of the crisis began as vessels near Oman were hit and shipping risk in and around the Strait of Hormuz rose sharply. Early attacks on tankers signalled that commercial traffic was now directly exposed.

The current crisis began when the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iran, triggering the conflict cycle that would quickly spread from military targets to regional shipping and energy markets.