Bahrain news centered Thursday on a sharp slowdown in the Strait of Hormuz, where only six ships passed after 15 the day before. President Trump later said in the Oval Office on Friday that he trusts Xi Jinping and Putin not to assist Iran.
The shipping drop came as Brent crude fell about 4% on Friday to about $96 by 2 p.m. ET after reaching $101 on Thursday, its highest level since May. Five ships used the northern route designated by Iran rather than the U.S.-sanctioned route to the south on Thursday.
Strait of Hormuz traffic
The Thursday count was the clearest sign of disruption in the waterway that moves commercial vessels and oil tankers. Kpler said several ships that had previously reversed course in the Gulf of Aden and Red Sea completed their crossings, while others remained on hold after earlier U-turns.
Kpler also said the data pointed to a cautious but selective return to transit activity as operators kept assessing security conditions. That fit the wider pattern in the region, where the route through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait had already been affected by threats and by ships pausing before moving again.
Trump, Xi Jinping and Putin
Trump answered questions Friday in the Oval Office about whether China and Russia were helping Iran. When asked about that, he said, “Well, I don't know that they're enabling,” and added, “I will tell you that President Xi said he will not partake, and President Putin said the same thing.”
He also said, “I think you know, I trust them.” He later declined to say whether blowing up power plants and bridges in Iran would be a war crime, replying, “Uh, I won't respond to that question,” before turning to another question in the room.
Bab el-Mandeb Strait
The Houthi militia based in Yemen targeted two Saudi-flagged ships in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait late Wednesday into Thursday after threatening to shut down traffic. Forty-nine vessels traveled through the strait on Thursday, up from 29 on Tuesday after the Houthi threat.
On Friday, the Houthi said they were only targeting Saudi vessels. The gap between the Hormuz slowdown, the attacks in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and Brent’s move below $100 leaves shippers and traders watching whether the reduced traffic lasts beyond this week.
