The safety of commercial shipping around the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz is coming under increasing scrutiny as the war between the United States and Iran continues. A series of ship sinkings, attacks and fires in recent days has heightened concerns over maritime security, while questions are emerging about whether Tehran is pursuing a new strategy to disrupt shipping and exert pressure on Washington.
On Thursday, 15 October, Iranian state television reported that an oil tanker caught fire in the Gulf of Oman after allegedly attempting to enter a restricted area. Citing the Iranian military, the broadcaster said the vessel had switched off its tracking system and was trying to enter an area where access was prohibited.
The cause of the fire remained unclear, and there was no immediate confirmation of who was responsible. The United States Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees American military operations in the Middle East and is enforcing a blockade on Iranian ports, did not immediately comment on the incident.
The latest report has added to concerns about the security of one of the world’s most important energy corridors. It has also fuelled speculation that Iran could be seeking to use disruptions to maritime traffic as leverage in its confrontation with the United States.
Could shipping disruptions put pressure on Washington?
Reports citing Iranian sources have suggested that Tehran may be attempting to keep global oil prices elevated by obstructing shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Such a strategy could increase political pressure on US President Donald Trump ahead of the American midterm elections, particularly if higher energy prices add to the economic concerns facing American households.
However, the suggestion that the recent incidents form part of a coordinated Iranian strategy has not been independently established. The circumstances surrounding individual attacks and fires remain unclear, and responsibility for them has not been conclusively determined.
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical passage linking the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. It carries substantial volumes of crude oil and other energy supplies from Gulf producers to international markets. Any sustained disruption could affect shipping schedules, increase transport and insurance costs, and contribute to volatility in global energy prices.
For countries dependent on imported fuel, prolonged instability could also increase import bills and place additional pressure on domestic energy markets. The scale of any impact would depend on how long shipping remained disrupted and whether alternative supplies and transport arrangements could compensate.
Pezeshkian describes Iran’s situation as unprecedented
As the military confrontation intensifies, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has also expressed concern about the country’s internal situation. Speaking on state television on Thursday, he said Iran was facing its most difficult circumstances since the Islamic Revolution of 1979.
Pezeshkian accused the United States of attempting to generate public anger by making life increasingly difficult for ordinary Iranians. He argued that sanctions, economic hardship and the consequences of war could create widespread frustration, potentially leading to protests that Washington might then seek to exploit.
“Over the past 48 years since the revolution, we have never faced sanctions, war and crises as severe as those we are experiencing now,” he said, according to the state broadcaster.
He alleged that the US strategy was to increase hardship and public resentment, ultimately encouraging social unrest in Iran. Washington did not immediately respond to his accusations.
The conflict has continued since 28 February, following US and Israeli strikes that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to the report. The confrontation has placed additional pressure on regional security and raised concerns about the potential consequences for international trade and energy supplies.
Pezeshkian’s remarks reflect the Iranian leadership’s concern that external military pressure and economic restrictions could aggravate domestic tensions. His comments also suggest that Tehran views the conflict as a challenge extending beyond the battlefield to the country’s economic stability and political cohesion.
Two commercial vessels sink near Hormuz
The maritime situation has become more alarming following the sinking of two commercial vessels near the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday.
Officials involved in monitoring maritime security told Reuters that the two ships were struck by projectiles resembling missiles or other forms of ammunition in separate incidents. According to their accounts, both vessels sank within the 24-hour period leading up to Wednesday.
Attacks in the surrounding waters had also increased during the preceding ten days, the report said. The incidents have intensified concerns among shipping operators about the risks facing vessels and their crews in the region.
One of the ships was the Singapore-flagged GFS Pride, a container vessel with a capacity of 2,824 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU). The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore said in a statement on Wednesday that the ship caught fire after an attack on Tuesday and subsequently sank.
All 21 crew members were safely evacuated. Their rescue prevented further loss of life, although the incident underscored the dangers facing commercial vessels operating amid the conflict.
The circumstances of the attack, including the identity of those responsible, were not immediately established. The incident also raised questions about the security arrangements available to commercial ships navigating waters affected by military operations.
Cape Dao sinks after an earlier fatal attack
The second vessel was the Antigua and Barbuda-flagged Cape Dao. According to information held by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the ship was struck by a projectile on 23 September.
One crew member was killed in the incident, while the remaining personnel were evacuated safely. The vessel subsequently sank near the Strait of Hormuz.
The ship was managed by Pioneers Shipmanagement FZE, a company based in the United Arab Emirates. The company did not immediately comment on the reported sinking.
Records maintained by the IMO have documented ship sinkings in the area since the war began on 28 February. According to the figures cited in the report, the GFS Pride and the Cape Dao were the second and third vessels to sink during the conflict.
The incidents illustrate the growing risks facing commercial shipping in and around the strait. They also highlight the distinction between the immediate safety of crews and the broader economic consequences of losing vessels and disrupting cargo movements.
Maritime insecurity threatens wider economic consequences
The Strait of Hormuz occupies a central position in global energy trade. Disruptions there can have consequences well beyond the Gulf, affecting shipping companies, energy importers and businesses that depend on reliable fuel supplies.
If attacks continue, shipping operators could face higher insurance premiums, increased operating costs and delays. Some companies may also reconsider their routes or postpone voyages until conditions improve. Such decisions could complicate supply chains and make the delivery of energy products less predictable.
Oil markets are particularly sensitive to developments in the region because uncertainty over the movement of supplies can influence prices even before a sustained shortage emerges. Any prolonged disruption could therefore affect fuel costs and wider economic conditions, although the extent of the impact would depend on the duration and scale of the crisis.
The security situation also presents a challenge for governments seeking to protect commercial vessels without escalating the military confrontation. Increased naval activity could help deter attacks, but it could also raise the risk of further incidents between opposing forces.
For now, the cause and responsibility for the latest maritime incidents remain uncertain. Whether the sinkings and fires are connected to a coordinated strategy by Iran has not been conclusively established. What is clear is that the growing number of incidents has intensified concerns about the safety of the Strait of Hormuz, the reliability of global energy supplies and the wider consequences of the continuing conflict.
