Three merchant ships struck as tensions rise in Hormuz strait amid Iran war
Merchant Vessels Targeted in Hormuz Strait Amid Escalating Conflict
Three commercial vessels were attacked in and around the strategic Strait of Hormuz, including a Thai-flagged bulk carrier that ignited after departing a UAE port, prompting crew evacuations for safety. The Mayuree Naree was struck by two unidentified projectiles while navigating approximately 11 nautical miles north of Oman, signaling the end of a four-day pause in attacks. A fire broke out in the ship’s engine room, which required immediate extinguishing. Twenty crew members were evacuated by the Omani navy, while a skeleton crew of three remained on the damaged vessel awaiting rescue.
Strait Closure and Oil Transit Concerns
The waterway has effectively been shut down since the start of the month following the US and Israeli strike on Iran, which spurred Tehran to retaliate across the region. Only a handful of vessels are confirmed as having risked the crossing. About one-fifth of global oil and gas flows pass through the strait, and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps declared it would block even “one litre of oil” from leaving the region if US-Israeli strikes continued. The two other vessels struck sustained minor damage, with no serious injuries reported among the crew.
“Get ready for oil to be $200 a barrel, because the oil price depends on regional security, which you have destabilised,” said Ebrahim Zolfaqari, a spokesperson for Iran’s military command.
Oil prices, which briefly climbed to nearly $120 a barrel on Monday, have since stabilized at around $90 as hopes for a swift end to the conflict grow. US media claimed Iran had deployed a dozen mines in the strait, though French President Emmanuel Macron denied confirmation of this. Naval experts noted such operations are likely carried out by Iranian speedboats or midget submarines that have evaded US targeting efforts.
US Military Response and Convoy Plans
Less than two hours after Donald Trump tweeted that “if Iran has put out any mines in the Hormuz Strait, and we have no reports of them doing so, we want them removed, IMMEDIATELY!” the US military released unclassified footage of mine-laying vessel attacks. The US claimed to have destroyed 16 Iranian vessels near the strait as part of a strategy to neutralize the country’s naval capabilities and disrupt shipping threats. Adm Bradley Cooper, head of US Central Command, stated the US had targeted 5,500 vessels in Iran, surpassing the previous day’s count by 500.
Iranian civilians were advised to avoid civilian ports, where military operations were underway. Initial talks about US naval convoys to protect oil tankers have emerged, but no patrol mission has been announced as the conflict intensifies. France expressed willingness to join a convoy once fighting subsides, while the UK emphasized air protection as a more critical measure. At a defense briefing, top US general Dan Caine mentioned the navy is evaluating various options to secure the strait.
When asked on Wednesday about ensuring safety in the strait, Trump assured reporters: “I think you’re going to see great safety, and it’s going to be very, very quickly,” without providing specifics. The strait measures just 21 miles at its narrowest point, with shipping lanes confined to a 2-mile width in either direction. Oil and gas exports from Persian Gulf nations typically rely on this route to reach global markets, highlighting its strategic significance in the current crisis.
