The strait has been a major point of contention for the United States and Iran

01:57, Tue, Mar 24, 2026 Updated: 02:07, Tue, Mar 24, 2026

UAE And Allies Condemn 'De Facto Closure' Of Strait Of Hormuz By Iran

Vessel in the Strait of Hormuz [file image] (Image: Getty)

It has been reported that two "zombie" ships have been seen passing through the Straight of Hormuz.

The strait, through which about a fifth of all global oil traded passes, has been a major point of contention for the United States and Iran in their more-than-three-week conflict.

The critical trade route has been blocked by Iran amid the ongoing conflict, sparked after the US and Israel carried out joint strikes on several key Iranian sites on February 28. Iran responded by hitting targets across the Middle East, plunging the region into conflict.

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Traffic through the strait has dropped significantly since the conflict started.

But it has been reported that in the past week, a Japanese-owned tanker carrying liquefied natural gas and a vehicle carrier have passed in and out of the channel, Australian news site news.com reported.

It is thought the ship had been decommissioned and scrapped for parts before the war broke out, but it appears that it has since resurfaced.

Strait Of Hormuz Remains Focal Point In Iran-U.S. War

The Strait of Hormuz has become a focal point of the war (Image: Getty)

A zombie ship is a vessel runs under the identity of a ship that has been officially retired - so an active ship using an alias of one which no longer exists.

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This is generally done to evade international sanctions, enable illicit cargo movements and bypass safety regulations.

It comes as pressure mounts on Iran to reopen the key trade route - it is the only way out of the Persian Gulf.