Shippers avoid Strait of Hormuz after Iran seizes vessels

Shippers are steering clear of the Strait of Hormuz after recent vessel seizures by Iran’s IRGC. The probability of the UK sending warships through the strait by April 30 sits at 2.4% YES, down from 10% a day ago.

The UK warships through the Strait market shows traders unconvinced the UK will act in the short term, even as the IRGC seizes vessels. The 2.4% YES odds point to low confidence in military intervention within the next seven days.

The Strait of Hormuz traffic market hasn’t seen much action, with no significant volume. There are few bids for traffic normalization by the end of May. The IRGC’s control over the chokepoint and ongoing US-Iran tensions both weigh on that outlook.

Trading volume in the UK warships market is $917 in actual USDC, with an order book depth of $200 to move the price 5 percentage points. This thin market means a single large order could substantially shift the odds, so the current price reflects a lack of strong conviction rather than any real consensus.

Without concrete signals of military intervention, markets remain skeptical. Buying YES shares at 2.4¢ offers a potential 41.7x return if the UK does deploy warships, but this outcome looks unlikely without a catalyst.

Watch for UK Ministry of Defence announcements and statements from IRGC Navy Commander Alireza Tangsiri. Any confirmation of frigate transits or new diplomatic moves could shift these odds quickly.

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