BlockBeats News, July 12th, according to The New York Times report, a commercial ship in the Strait of Hormuz was attacked again on Saturday local time, and the United States subsequently launched a new round of strikes against Iranian targets. The escalation of the situation in the Middle East may cause another sharp fluctuation in international oil prices after the opening on Sunday.

Data shows that the current daily average number of ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz has dropped to 22, far below the pre-conflict level of over 130 ships per day. Brent crude oil closed this week at around $76 per barrel, up about 5% from before the conflict broke out.

The report stated that Iran insists that commercial ships pass through its designated waterway, and some ships choosing to sail close to the Omani coast under the protection of the US military continue to be targeted. Analysts believe that although oil prices are still far below the peak of almost $120 per barrel during wartime, Iran has demonstrated its ability to influence the global energy market through the situation in the Strait of Hormuz.