STRAIT OF HORMUZ — About 90 ships crossed the Strait of Hormuz between March 1 and March 15, including 16 oil tankers, despite most shipping traffic being halted after the war began. Iran exported more than 16 million barrels of oil since the beginning of March while about 20 vessels have been attacked in the area.

More than one-fifth of the vessels that crossed the strait were believed to be affiliated with Iran. Ships affiliated with China and Greece were also among the vessels that crossed during this period. An analysis on the ship-tracking platform MarineTraffic found some vessels near or in the Strait of Hormuz declaring themselves as China-linked or with all-Chinese crew.

The Pakistan-flagged crude oil tanker Karachi, controlled by the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation, passed through the strait on Sunday. The India-flagged liquefied petroleum gas carriers Shivalik and Nanda Devi, both owned by the Shipping Corporation of India, traveled through the strait around March 13 or 14. India's foreign minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said the two Indian-flagged vessels passed through the Strait of Hormuz following talks with Iran.

"Vessels may be transiting with at least some level of diplomatic intervention," said Richard Meade, editor-in-chief of Lloyd's List. "Iran may have effectively created a safe corridor with some ships passing close to the Iranian coast," Meade said.

Iran threatened that it would not allow any oil destined for the U.S., Israel, and their allies to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. said it was allowing Iranian oil tankers to cross the strait. "The Iranian ships have been getting out already, and we've let that happen to supply the rest of the world," said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

The U.S. bombed military sites on Kharg Island off the Iranian coast. President Donald Trump said he had left Iran's oil infrastructure intact for now. Oil prices have jumped more than 40 percent to above $100 per barrel since the war began.

Before the war, there were approximately 100 to 135 vessel passages per day through the Strait of Hormuz. China has been the largest buyer of Iranian oil since Western sanctions were imposed. Iraq was in talks with Iran to allow Iraqi oil tankers to transit the strait.

Liquefied petroleum gas is used as a primary cooking fuel by millions of Indian households.