Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) declared it has “complete control” of the strategic waterway, with fresh attacks on commercial vessels near the Strait of Hormuz overnight intensifying fears that the escalating U.S.-Israeli war with Iran could further disrupt one of the world’s most critical energy corridors, Al-Jazeera reported.
Iranian state media carried comments from an IRGC naval official on Wednesday asserting that the Islamic Republic now controls the strait, a narrow shipping lane between Iran and Oman through which roughly a fifth of global oil supply normally passes. The statement follows warnings from U.S. President Donald Trump to the effect that Washington could deploy naval escorts for tankers if the security situation deteriorates.
The remarks come as maritime security agencies report new attacks on commercial ships operating near the Gulf’s key shipping routes.
In the first incident, a vessel traveling about 137 nautical miles east of Muscat reported a nearby explosion late Tuesday, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). The ship continued sailing and no injuries or major damage were reported.
Related: Inside North America’s First Fully Integrated Rare Earth Facility
A second incident occurred hours later near the Emirati port of Fujairah, where a tanker operating roughly seven nautical miles offshore was struck by debris from an unidentified projectile. The impact caused minor damage to the vessel’s funnel but did not trigger a fire or flooding, and the crew were reported safe, according to UKMTO.
The incidents add to a growing list of attacks on commercial shipping since the conflict with Iran intensified. Maritime authorities have urged vessels operating in the region to remain on heightened alert and report suspicious activity.
The security situation has already begun to slow tanker movements through the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint linking the Persian Gulf with the Indian Ocean that normally handles about 20 million barrels per day of crude and petroleum products.
Despite the disruption, isolated voyages are still taking place. Ship-tracking data cited by Reuters showed the tanker Pola transiting the strait earlier this week before heading toward the United Arab Emirates to load crude. Meanwhile, shipping analytics firm Clarksons Research estimates thousands of vessels remain idle across the Gulf as operators assess the security risks.
By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com
More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
- U.S. Crude Oil Inventories Continue to Build While Gasoline Draws Down
- JP Morgan Warns of Catastrophic Oil Supply Loss from Middle East War
- Oil, Fuel Contracts Break Records on Surging Prices
