WASHINGTON: U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday, August 19, that the Strait of Hormuz was open and that "lots of boats" were coming through.
A temporary ceasefire agreement expired on Monday (August 17) and a senior Iranian official told Reuters that his country was moving to a "fully offensive" military posture due to the diplomatic stalemate, though there were no reports of strikes by either side on Tuesday (August 18).
The Strait of Hormuz carried about one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies before the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran began at the end of February. Its disruption remains a central concern for energy markets.
Shipping through Hormuz slowed, data showed on Wednesday, as most shipowners avoided the waterway because of the uncertainty.
