Electronic warfare disrupts shipping in the Persian Gulf and the Middle East situation still affects the global energy market.

The situation in the Middle East continues to affect the global energy market. According to reports, the geographic location data of some vessels in the Persian Gulf has shown severe abnormalities in terms of their position and speed, indicating an increase in signal interference following Iran's new round of attacks on neighboring countries. Vessel tracking data shows that approximately 120 ships are clustered in a circular formation with speeds close to 50 knots, but their positions have not changed in an area about an hour's drive inland from Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Additionally, about 12 ships are clustered near the border between Oman and the UAE, with speed data showing over 100 knots. The clustering of vessels in inland areas and abnormal speed data indicates that the vessels' geographic positioning broadcasts may have been interfered with (signal interference). Earlier, the UAE announced that it had activated its air defense systems last week in response to missiles and drones launched by Iran, marking Iran's first attack on the UAE in nearly a month. The abnormal vessel positioning and speed data suggest an increase in signal interference. Mark Douglas, an analyst at maritime intelligence agency Starboard Maritime Intelligence, stated that following the new round of attacks, the UAE and other Gulf countries likely activated electronic warfare systems. He said, "Shipping activities, especially Automatic Identification System (AIS) data, have been affected." AIS is a system that broadcasts ships' dynamic information using radio technology. Although the current intensity of electronic interference is not as high as at the beginning of the conflict, the clustering of vessels with abnormal positioning data indicates a recurrence of intensified signal disruption behavior. The increased signal interference has made real-time traffic data analysis in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz more complex, and this data is crucial for understanding energy flows. Ship captains have taken proactive measures, such as turning off their vessel transponders, to protect themselves from attacks. On Sunday, a cargo ship was attacked in the region. As of Monday, shipping in the Strait of Hormuz has nearly come to a halt, with only two rare oil tankers crossing the strait into the Gulf of Oman. One of the tankers, the very large crude carrier Agios Fanourios I, is loaded with Iraqi crude oil and its destination is listed as Vietnam. The escalation of the situation has drawn attention due to the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz as a key "chokepoint" in the global energy supply chain, handling approximately one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments. The fluctuating situation in the Middle East has been a core driver of recent oil price movements. U.S. President Trump recently stated that Iran's response to the U.S. ceasefire proposal is "completely unacceptable," causing Brent crude to rise by 3.7% on Monday to $105.07 per barrel, and WTI crude to rise by 4.30% to $99.52 per barrel. Analysts at the Dutch International Group stated, "It was expected that the market would tire of the overwhelming news and back-and-forth. However, oil prices remain highly sensitive to the noise surrounding Iran, highlighting the significant impact of continued supply disruptions in the Persian Gulf."