Strait of Hormuz oil transit volumes subject to dispute

Disputes have emerged regarding the volume of oil passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Donald Trump has claimed that oil volumes have returned to near-normal levels, citing approximately 18 million barrels per day passing through the strait. Vice President J.D. Vance has further asserted that Iranian control over the waterway has essentially vanished.

However, these claims are contested by Iranian officials and maritime data providers. Mohsen Rezaei, a senior Iranian security official, dismissed the assertions as a ‘big lie,’ estimating daily transits at only seven to eight vessels, significantly lower than the 30 to 40 suggested by the Trump administration.

Data from Kpler, a maritime data firm, indicates movement of less than 5 million barrels per day for the week ending August 30. Additionally, the Joint Maritime Information Centre, linked to the US Navy, has reported figures that do not align with the high single-digit transit numbers often cited by independent observers.