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Only a few vessels have crossed the strait since the US-Iran ceasefire deal, according to BBC Verify analysis.
Watch LiveBritish Broadcasting CorporationHomeNewsSportBusinessTechnologyHealthCultureArtsTravelEarthAudioVideoLiveDocumentariesHomeNewsUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC InDepthBBC VerifySportBusinessWorld of BusinessTechnology of BusinessNYSE Opening BellTechnologyWatch DocumentariesArtificial IntelligenceAI v the MindHealthWatch DocumentariesCultureWatch DocumentariesFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsArtsWatch DocumentariesArts in MotionTravelWatch DocumentariesDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListEarthWatch DocumentariesScienceNatural WondersClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingAudioPodcast CategoriesRadioAudio FAQsVideoWatch DocumentariesBBC MaestroDiscover the WorldLiveLive NewsLive SportDocumentariesHomeNewsSportBusinessTechnologyHealthCultureArtsTravelEarthAudioVideoLiveDocumentariesWeatherNewslettersWatch LiveShips still cautious about using Strait of Hormuz as Iran issues warning50 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleTom Edgington, Joshua Cheetham and Kayleen DevlinBBC VerifyGetty ImagesThe Strait of Hormuz has become a focal point of the US-Israel war with Iran after Tehran effectively choked off one of the world's most important shipping lanes, carrying about a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas.
A two-week ceasefire was agreed on Tuesday evening on the condition that "safe passage" through the strait is guaranteed - but BBC Verify analysis shows only a few vessels have since crossed.
The disruption, over the past five weeks, has sent shock waves across the world economy, pushing up energy prices and exposing just how reliant international supply chains are on the strait, which is only about 33km (21 miles) wide at its narrowest point.
As well as energy, the Gulf is also vital for transporting chemicals needed to process products like microchips, pharmaceuticals and fertiliser.
While the price of oil has fallen on news of the ceasefire, shipping analysts are warning to expect only a trickle of crossings for now.
"Most shipping lines would want to get details and reassurances on what it actually takes to transit and those details are not available," Lars Jensen from Vespucci Maritime told the BBC.
Since the ceasefire came into force, shipping brokerage firm SSY has confirmed to BBC Verify that ships in the Gulf have received a warning from Iran's navy that any vessels seeking to cross without permission "will be targeted and destroyed".
By 14:00 BST on 8 April just three tankers - NJ Earth, Daytona Beach and Hai Long 1 - had passed through the strait since the ceasefire was announced late on Tuesday night.
That's based on BBC Verify analysis of ship-tracking data from MarineTraffic.
That compares to 138 ships that passed through the strait each day, on average, before the conflict started on 28 February.
We do not know if the three vessels that crossed on Wednesday were the result of the ceasefire, or whether they had already planned to make the journey.
"It is still too soon to tell whether this reflects a broader ceasefire-driven reopening or a previously approved exception," says Ana Suba
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