Strait of Hormuz: Tanker Attacks Surge as Trump Awaits Iran Call
Iran reported two more tankers hit by mines Friday, bringing the October total to at least 30 commercial vessel incidents.
By Ella Cox ·
The U.S. president said he expects to make a decision on a potential new attack on Iran soon.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced Friday that two oil tankers struck mines and caught fire in or near the Strait of Hormuz. The statement, released via state media, identified one vessel east of the strait and the other within it. The IRGC claimed both ships used unauthorized routes and had disabled their navigation and identification systems.
This incident followed reports on Thursday that five oil tankers and a tugboat caught fire in the same region. Maritime officials have not confirmed either set of incidents. President Trump has accused Tehran of fabricating these attacks to inflate global energy prices.
A U.K. naval agency reported at least 30 attacks on commercial vessels in the region during October. This figure represents a record high for the month, despite repeated U.S. assurances that shipping lanes remain open and safe.
The conflict began on February 28 with joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran. Since then, Tehran has sought to control traffic through the strait, a passage that typically carries about 20 percent of global crude oil supplies. In response, the U.S. imposed a blockade on Iranian ports.
The U.S. military now escorts tankers through the strait. These escorts have helped restore Gulf shipments to near pre-war levels, though vessels continue to come under attack.
