Iran is continuing its attacks in the Strait of Hormuz: several ships have been targeted by drones and missiles. The crews were evacuated.
Whilst the US has now carried out attacks on Iran for ten consecutive nights, the situation regarding shipping in the Strait of Hormuz also remains critical. According to a statement by UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), an oil tanker was attacked on Monday. In their distress call, the crew stated that the vessel had been struck by either a drone or a missile. The strike triggered a fire in the engine room, but the crew were able to abandon ship. According to reports, the tanker in question is the “Kaifan”, owned by the Kuwait Oil Tanker Company (KOTC).
Furthermore, two tankers belonging to the Greek shipping company Dynacom Tankers were targeted by Iranian attacks. The “Acheloos” was struck north-east of the Omani coast; the crew were able to abandon ship and escape in a lifeboat. The “Kavomaleas” had to be abandoned shortly before off the coast of Oman after being struck by two projectiles. Furthermore, Iran claimed responsibility for mine strikes on two further tankers.
As a result of the renewed escalation between the US and Iran, safe shipping through the Strait of Hormuz cannot be guaranteed. Traffic through the strait has recently declined significantly – it is currently around 90 per cent below pre-crisis levels.
Only recently, US President Trump had stated that the US Navy would ensure security in the strait. Initially, he had proposed a cargo fee in return, but quickly backed away from this idea. Instead, the US is now seeking investments from allied Gulf states.
From the US perspective, the Strait of Hormuz is considered open; a blockade applies only to ships with links to Iran. According to the regional command Centcom, US forces remain on standby and are “determined to hold Iran to account for unjustified aggression against civilian seafarers seeking to pass through the strait freely and unhindered.”
Alongside the Strait of Hormuz, there is also a threat of escalating tensions in the Red Sea, particularly at the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. According to reports by Reuters, Houthi rebels are said to have taken up positions there with a view to resuming attacks on merchant ships. Somali pirates have also become active in the region: yesterday, a tanker was hijacked off the coast of Yemen.
