There are currently 29 merchant vessels flying the Maltese flag on either side of the Strait of Hormuz, according to Sustainable Mobility Minister Chris Bonett.Replying to a parliamentary question by Opposition MP Ivan Bartolo, Bonett said 26 Malta-registered ships are in the Persian Gulf, while another three are in the Gulf of Oman. He added that not all of the vessels are located within the conflict zone as reported by Malta Today.The update comes as shipping through the Strait of Hormuz continues to face disruption amid renewed tensions between the United States and Iran.The Strait of Hormuz is a strategic waterway linking the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Indian Ocean, with a significant share of global oil and commercial shipping passing through it.Several commercial vessels attempting to transit the strait have reportedly been stopped or targeted as tensions in the region continue to affect maritime traffic.•