‘Nearly ten’ vessels hit by Iran in Strait of Hormuz, local media says

Iranian forces have struck “nearly ten” oil tankers and ships in the Strait of Hormuz since the outbreak of a US-Israeli war on Iran on February 28, semi-official Mehr News Agency said in a report on March 4.

The Iranian media outlet said that the vessels were came under attack as they were trying sail “illegally” through the critical waterway – via which around 20% of the world’s crude oil passes.  

Mehr claimed that at least one vessel had sunk following such attacks.

The flow of crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the Persian Gulf has been severely disrupted since the United States and Israel unleashed an all-out air campaign against Iran. The Iranian military has hit back forcefully, pounding US bases and assets in regional Arab oil producers.

The war has pushed oil prices to multi-month highs. Brent rose to $84.07 a barrel after closing on March 3 at its highest since January 2025. US West Texas Intermediate crude climbed to $76.8 after settling at its ​highest since June. 

According to monitoring data, only a total of seven vessels, including oil tankers and commercial ships, passed through the strait on March 2, a dramatic drop from the average of 75 vessels on normal days.

Some 200 oil tankers are said to be adrift on both sides of the strait in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman, literally becoming floating oil storage facilities.

US President Donald Trump suggested that the US Navy could escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump also said he had instructed the US International Development Finance Corporation to provide political risk insurance and financial guarantees for maritime trade in the Persian Gulf.

However, Trump’s proposals have failed to halt the upward trend in oil prices. Experts believe that his proposals will take time to take effect.

Given that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has threatened to set ablaze any vessel attempting to transit the strait, escorting ships by the US Navy could lead to military confrontation.