Ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz rose slightly despite continuing tensions between the United States and Iran, while markets monitored talks between Iran and Oman over an agreement on the key waterway.

On Wednesday, Kpler recorded 10 commodity vessels passing through the strait, up from eight on Tuesday. The figure remained below the 10-day moving average of about 15 vessels.

Seven vessels, including fuel tankers and a liquefied petroleum gas carrier, entered the strait from the Gulf of Oman, while three traveled in the opposite direction.

According to a senior Iranian source, Iran and Oman are still working on the details of an agreement. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards had previously said the two countries had agreed on how to share the waterway and its revenue.

Meanwhile, traffic through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait slowed for a second consecutive day. On Wednesday, 19 commodity vessels passed through, down from 24 on Tuesday. Six tankers were among the vessels leaving the strait.

Kpler notes that some ships may be sailing through the key waterways with their transponders switched off and therefore may not be included in the figures.

(Reuters, lud)