Around 60 commercial ships crossed the Strait of Hormuz the day before yesterday, Wednesday, carrying the largest volume of crude oil to pass through the waterway in a 24-hour period since the beginning of July, despite the ongoing war between the United States and Iran, a U.S. official told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

Nearly 40 of these ships coordinated with the U.S. armed forces for their protection, the source said, adding that approximately 22 million barrels of oil passed through the strategically important waterway.

The Strait of Hormuz has become a focal point of efforts to end the nearly seven-month conflict between the United States and Iran, with Tehran seeking the lifting of the U.S. blockade that is strangling the Islamic Republic’s economy, while Washington is pressuring the Iranians to stop obstructing maritime traffic in the region.

Before the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, around 125 large commercial vessels passed through the Strait of Hormuz every day—including oil tankers, gas carriers, bulk carriers and container ships—transporting around 20% of the world’s daily supply of crude oil and liquefied natural gas.

According to sources familiar with the talks cited by Reuters, U.S. and Iranian negotiators in New York are discussing terms for ending the war, including Tehran reopening the Strait of Hormuz and Washington lifting the economic blockade of Iran.