Iran Tightens Control as Israeli Airstrikes Disrupt Passage

The situation in the Strait of Hormuz has experienced intense fluctuations over the past 24 hours. Iran has previously strengthened control over the strait through a tiered charging mechanism, dividing ships into five categories based on their "friendliness" to Iran. Transit fees start at about $1 per barrel, payable in RMB or stablecoins, colloquially referred to by industry insiders as a "maritime toll booth." The Iranian Parliament's Security Committee has approved related legislation to "institutionalize" the fee system and explicitly ban US and Israeli ships from passing.

However, the fragile ceasefire was quickly broken. On April 8 local time, Israel launched a large-scale airstrike against Lebanon, resulting in at least 254 deaths and 1,165 injuries. The Israeli military deployed 50 fighter jets to drop approximately 160 bombs within 10 minutes. In response, Iran halted oil tanker passage through the Strait of Hormuz, with ships originally heading toward the strait's exit forced to turn around 180 degrees and return to the Persian Gulf's deeper waters. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard warned that if attacks against Lebanon do not cease immediately, they will respond with "heavy retaliation."

Ship tracking data shows that current passage volume through the strait has dropped about 95% compared to peacetime levels, with only a few ships passing daily. Analysts note that while ceasefire news may quickly influence market sentiment, actual changes in shipping behavior will lag significantly, and industry experts remain quite skeptical about the stability of the situation. #Gate广场四月发帖挑战