Seven oil tankers were either set on fire or damaged in the Strait of Hormuz overnight due to attacks by Iran or striking naval mines, according to Tehran’s announcement on Thursday. This incident comes at a time of escalating tensions, raising concerns about a potential return to full-scale conflict.
Iranian state television relayed the information regarding the recent ship attacks, although independent verification by The Associated Press was not available. The report attributed the attacks to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps navy, which also issued threats to target U.S. military bases in the region if the U.S. continues to assist in guiding commercial ships through the strait.
The report did not specify any casualties. Iran purportedly gained control over the waterway shortly after the U.S. and Israel initiated extensive attacks on Iran on February 28.
October has witnessed the highest number of reported attacks on commercial shipping since the early weeks of the conflict in March, as per the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, a British military monitor. While the latest attacks were not reported by UKMTO, there has been a noted reluctance among some shippers to report such incidents.
Experts suggest that oil producers have managed to maintain the flow of crude oil, albeit at an increasing cost. There are concerns that a potential resumption of U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran, particularly with the upcoming Israeli election and U.S. midterm elections, could lead to higher fuel prices and geopolitical tensions.
The potential escalation to full-fledged fighting could endanger civilians across the region and disrupt global oil, natural gas, and fertilizer deliveries from the area, resulting in a likely surge in prices.
The conflict landscape has broadened with intensified clashes between Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen and Saudi Arabia. The Saudi-led coalition reported intercepting drones over Riyadh and Medina, two significant locations in Saudi Arabia.
The Houthis claimed responsibility for attacks on Saudi Arabia’s Defense Ministry in Riyadh, Saudi Aramco facilities in Yanbu, and King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, where two individuals were reportedly killed according to Saudi authorities.
The repeated attacks by the Houthis on Saudi Arabian facilities have strained the U.S.-Saudi alliance, prompting the U.S. State Department to instruct the departure of some diplomats and their families from Saudi Arabia and other missions in the region due to security concerns.
Efforts are underway to facilitate negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, with Iran expressing readiness for diplomacy while emphasizing its commitment to self-defense. Iran has proposed conditions for ending the conflict and fully reopening the strait, mirroring terms from a previous agreement that collapsed shortly after its signing.