A tanker sailing off Qatar’s northern coast was attacked after being struck by multiple projectiles, with the incident adding to growing concerns over the safety of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and pushing oil prices above $100 a barrel.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said the vessel was attacked in the Gulf, around 500 km west of the Strait of Hormuz. The authority did not identify the ship or specify the origin of the attack, but reported an unknown number of casualties. The attack came as maritime security firms recorded the highest weekly number of strikes on oil, liquefied natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas tankers around the Strait since the war with Iran began.
At least 12 attacks were reported on tankers in the week to October 5, according to data from three maritime security sources. India’s Foreign Ministry also said on Tuesday that 12 crew members were injured when a Panama-flagged oil tanker was attacked while transiting the Strait.
A US Navy-led maritime security agency said attacks, attempted attacks and harassment, including drone overflights and surveillance by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, have continued in the strategic waterway. Iran further escalated tensions on Wednesday by saying it would close routes through the Strait that it considers illegal. Mohammadreza Naqdi, an adviser to the Revolutionary Guards commander, said the routes included a southern passage along Oman’s coast that Tehran claims was created by damaging rocky passages and is being used to transfer oil from small boats to tankers.
Naqdi said the Strait was already closed and that Iranian armed forces had full control over it. IRGC adviser Majid Mirahmadi separately said an average of about 10 ships a day were currently transiting the waterway, compared with around 125 before the war.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio disputed Iran’s assessment, saying Tehran had “lost complete control” of the Strait and that oil flows were now close to pre-war levels. The conflicting claims have added to uncertainty over energy supplies. Brent crude rose above $100 a barrel on Wednesday as concerns over attacks on shipping and the future of oil and gas flows through the Strait intensified.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important energy corridors, with roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies passing through the waterway before the war. The continuing military and political stalemate is also increasing pressure on US President Donald Trump. US media reports said his administration is considering renewed military operations against Iran in the coming weeks, including the possibility of strikes before November’s midterm elections.
