The Strait of Hormuz, BBC finds seized ships and shark fishermen as uneasy calm returns

The Strait of Hormuz remains tense as international journalists report seized vessels and ongoing disruption to shark fishing routes while uneasy calm returns. BBC visited the Iranian side for the first time since the conflict escalated after attacks launched on 28 February by the US and Israel. Iranian forces, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), began firing on commercial ships attempting to pass without permission, effectively making the waterway impassable. Seafarers were stranded and oil prices surged, raising energy and fuel costs and the prices of globally shipped goods. The US responded with a blockade targeting ships using Iran’s Gulf ports. The wider stakes involve one of the world’s most vital shipping lanes and a key focal point in the US-Israeli conflict with Iran.