Strait of Hormuz: Iran Claims 35 Vessels Transited, Oil & Forex Impact

Iran's state media reports that 35 vessels, including oil tankers, container ships, and other commercial vessels, passed through the Strait of Hormuz in the past 24 hours — up from 26 vessels claimed on Monday. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint for global oil supply, with roughly 20% of the world's petroleum passing through daily. While the headline suggests normalizing transit flows, analysts caution against taking Iranian state media claims at face value, particularly amid ongoing geopolitical tensions in the region. For forex markets, stable oil flows through the strait tend to ease risk premiums on crude oil, which can weigh on commodity-linked currencies like CAD and NOK while supporting risk appetite more broadly. Conversely, any disruption or escalation could trigger sharp moves in USD/JPY and USD/CHF as safe-haven demand surges. Traders should monitor independent shipping data to verify these claims. Near-term, oil-sensitive pairs like USD/CAD and AUD/USD remain in focus as the geopolitical risk premium fluctuates with each new development from the region.