Are Hormuz ships more willing to defy Iran or the US? What the data shows

What the report says

Al Jazeera reports that shipping patterns in the Strait of Hormuz suggest many vessels are trying to avoid being clearly identified as they pass through the contested waterway. Citing maritime intelligence firm Kpler, the article says 112 oil and gas vessels transited between August 1 and August 19, while a larger total of 236 ships, including dry cargo and chemical carriers, also crossed during that period.

According to the data summarized by Al Jazeera, more vessels publicly used the Iranian route than the Omani route. For energy carriers, 21 openly took the Iranian corridor and only two used the Omani one, while most others were tracked on dark or unclassified routes. Across all ship types, 83 openly used the Iranian route, three publicly used the Omani route and two used the older central route, with 148 moving on dark or unknown tracks. The report says the widespread use of switched-off transponders makes it difficult to determine the true balance of route choices.

The article says the pattern reflects the risks posed by both US and Iranian pressure in the strait, where each side has issued threats and taken action against ships it says are violating rules or sanctions. It notes that some operators appear to prefer hiding their movements, sometimes to reduce exposure to missiles, inspections or enforcement. On that basis, Al Jazeera argues that ships seem more willing to defy the United States than Iran, although the evidence is not definitive because so many transits are not fully visible.