Ed Kaleighi

Oil shipping has largely paused in the Strait of Hormuz that links the oil-rich Persian Gulf to the open seas after the U.S.

and Israel bombed Iran, with Iranian media saying the waterway is practically closed.

Ships reported hearing a radio broadcast purporting to come from the Iranian Navy announcing that transit through the waterway was banned.

Several tankers that had been heading toward Hormuz have turned around.

A large number had already paused to wait near the entrance to the waterway after the bombing started.

The disruption is impacting everything from crude oil tankers to container ships that carry furniture.

Ed Kolegi, Bloomberg Radio.