Shipping through the strait has slowed to a trickle since Iran effectively blocked access following US-Israeli attacks on the country. Beijing expressed "gratitude" on Tuesday (Mar 31) as it said three Chinese ships had transited the crucial Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has all but closed during the war in the Middle East. Two of the vessels passed through the strait, crucial for transporting oil and gas, on Monday as they exited the Gulf, tracking data showed. The CSCL Indian Ocean crossed the