A third oil tanker exploded in the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, according to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Navy, as a string of attacks on commercial shipping pushed oil prices higher and deepened fears for one of the world’s most important energy waterways.
Three tankers in two days
The IRGC Navy said the tanker struck a naval mine while attempting to cross what Tehran calls an unauthorised route through the strait, and was left burning in the eastern part of the waterway. Earlier on Tuesday, the same force said two other tankers had suffered massive explosions and were left ablaze after hitting mines.
Iranian state media reported that the vessels had switched off their navigation and identification systems before attempting the passage. The IRGC said the strait was “without any doubt” under its navy’s control, and warned that vessels cooperating with US forces would face similar consequences.
Independent confirmation is thin
What is independently documented is serious enough. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre confirmed a tanker was struck by an unidentified projectile northeast of Lima, Oman, on Tuesday. Videos verified by Reuters showed the Singapore-flagged tanker Navig8 Messi on fire off Oman on Sunday, November 8, and UKMTO logged the first incident at about 19:20 UTC on Saturday, November 7, near Khasab, Oman, with the crew evacuated and no injuries reported.
Oil markets react
Oil prices recovered on Wednesday after touching two-month lows, as the fresh reports of attacks weakened hopes that a possible US-Iran de-escalation would quickly restore normal energy flows, Reuters reported.
The wider toll is mounting. Reuters, citing data from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, reported that 37 ships were attacked during October, the highest monthly total since the Middle East war began in late February. The International Maritime Organization has confirmed 130 incidents in the region, most of them attacks, with at least 25 seafarers killed. About a fifth of world oil consumption normally passes through the strait.
Related reading: Iran Awaits US Response Tuesday on Hormuz Roadmap and Oil Prices Fall Tuesday on Trump Iran Escalation
