The number of vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz rose to 16 on April 14, marking the highest level recorded since regional tensions began escalating in March, according to calculations by TASS based on maritime traffic monitoring data, The Caspian Post reports.

On April 14 alone, 16 ships passed through the strategic waterway, surpassing previous peaks observed on April 3, 11, and 12, when 14 crossings were recorded on each of those days.

Over the past 24 hours, most vessels were heading toward the Gulf of Oman, while some ships stopped at anchorages in nearby Omani ports shortly after transiting the strait.

The increase in maritime traffic comes amid heightened geopolitical developments in the region. Following talks between Washington and Tehran on April 11, the US Central Command announced plans to initiate a naval blockade of Iran starting April 13.

The blockade is intended to restrict the movement of vessels both heading toward Iranian ports and those attempting to depart from the country’s shores, adding further pressure to an already tense situation in one of the world’s most critical maritime corridors.