Iran Escalates Attacks on Ships Near Strait of Hormuz

Iranian attacks on vessels in and around the Strait of Hormuz have reached their highest frequency since the start of a conflict on February 28, with six ships targeted in a single day, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) and international maritime security sources. Data indicates that over 18 commercial vessels were targeted by Iran in the first 12 days of October, including six on Monday. Between October 5 and 12 alone, at least 14 incidents of attacks, attempted attacks, or interceptions of ships were recorded in the strait and its vicinity. This surge in attacks on commercial shipping aligns with renewed confrontations between Tehran and Washington since July, with at least 12 attacks on oil tankers and cargo ships in July, and at least 10 in August, including LNG carriers off the UAE and Oman. In September, the number of targeted vessels rose to 18, coinciding with a strategy by the U.S. and Gulf states to use smaller vessels for oil transfers to larger tankers in safer areas. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) described these operations as "illegal oil smuggling and an attempt to break the Hormuz blockade," expanding their scope to include supply vessels, tugs, and small tankers. The IRGC stated some targeted ships suffered explosions from colliding with naval mines while sailing "illegally" in what they deemed "unsafe" routes. Tehran claims its intensified operations are a response to what it calls the "American naval blockade," while warning ships against using unapproved routes or transiting the area after navigation and identification systems were shut down. Since April 2026, Iran has imposed navigation restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz, requiring prior coordination with the IRGC navy. On May 30, Tehran mandated prior authorization from the IRGC navy for all transiting vessels, warning that passage without permission constituted a "security threat." These developments occur amid ongoing tensions between Iran and the United States concerning navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy and trade route and a key point in bilateral negotiations. The conflict began with attacks by the U.S. and Israel on Iran on February 28, followed by a ceasefire in April, and renewed confrontations in July due to stalled negotiations, despite a memorandum of understanding signed in mid-June.