Three tankers, including one Japanese-owned, cross Strait of Hormuz near Oman Three tankers, including one co-owned by a Japanese company, crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday by hugging close to Oman's shore, a rare transit route as Iran maintains a chokehold on the key war-torn passageway. Before the war which started more than a month ago, about a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas passed through the Strait, but that has dwindled to a trickle as Iran selectively attacks ships and energy facilities throughout the Gulf in retaliation against US and Israeli attacks. The near closing of the international artery has led to fuel shortages and soaring energy prices across the globe. Thursday's passage of the three was notable because they sailed close to the Omani Musandam Peninsula to the south of the waterway on Thursday, maritime traffic data showed Friday. The Callisto tanker sits anchored in Port Sultan Qaboos as the traffic is down in the Strait of Hormuz, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Muscat, Oman, 12 March, 2026. (Reuters/Benoit Tessi)