Ankara: Commercial shipping traffic remained low around the Strait of Hormuz in the 24-hour period ending at 1200GMT Wednesday, driven by uncertainties over a potential US-Iran ceasefire. Eight vessels passed through the strait from the Arabian Gulf to the Oman Gulf, while seven traversed from the east to the west.

According to Anadolu Agency, several vessels, including the Iran-flagged cargo ship Mehrsam 13709 departing from the UAE, and the India-flagged cargo vessel Safina Al Yakub 1408 near Emirati ports, navigated through the strait from west to east. Other vessels included the Mali-flagged asphalt-bitumen tanker Pacific Explorer, departing from the UAE, and the Cameroon-flagged landing craft Polaris, sailing from the UAE to Oman. The Comoros-flagged landing craft Harapan Perdana IX traveled from Iran to the UAE, while the Bahamas-flagged oil and chemical tanker Musik departed from the UAE. Additionally, the Panama-flagged container ship MSC Francesca sailed from Saudi Arabia to Sri Lanka.

In contrast, the Trkiye-flagged crude oil tanker Ottoman Equity, which was en route from Singapore to the UAE, reached the region but then turned back toward the Gulf of Oman.

Movements in the opposite direction included the Sri Lanka-flagged cargo ship Albasher 1, departing from the UAE, and the Bolivia-flagged cargo vessel RT 10, traveling from Iran to Oman. The Barbados-flagged oil products tanker Rangver was also observed moving from the UAE to Oman, along with the Comoros-flagged landing craft Al Batha, from Iran to the UAE. The Panama-flagged container ship Euphoria traveled from the UAE to Saudi Arabia, while the Panama-flagged tanker LPG Sevan moved from Bangladesh to the UAE. Two Iran-flagged vessels, the crude oil tanker Atlantis II and the landing craft LCT Hengami Qeshm, were also noted departing from Iran.

TankerTrackers reported that the Euphoria, Epaminodes, and MSC Francesca were stopped and seized by Iran. Iranian forces claim these vessels were attempting to exit the strait "covertly" and were intercepted based on intelligence monitoring.

In a related development, US President Donald Trump on Tuesday extended the two-week ceasefire with Iran, allowing time for Tehran to prepare a "unified proposal." This extension follows a request from Pakistani officials as intense diplomatic efforts by Islamabad aim to facilitate a second round of US-Iran talks, expected soon in the Pakistani capital.