Tensions rise in the Strait of Hormuz as Iran attacks cargo ships
Tehran warns that any ship carrying oil to the US, Israel and its partners will be seen as a "legitimate target"
BarcelonaThe Strait of Hormuz has become one of the most tense areas since the start of the Iran-Iraq War, but the events of the last few hours, with four cargo ships attacked, threaten a military escalation at a strategic point for the global hydrocarbon trade. Furthermore, the United States has also intensified its attacks on Iranian warships in this area and has issued stronger threats.
On Wednesday, four ships were reported to have been hit by projectiles while in or near the Strait of Hormuz. These ships were owned by Greece, Japan, Thailand, and Israel. With these attacks, the number of commercial vessels attacked in the region since the United States and Israel launched their joint military operation against Iran on February 28 has risen to 17, according to the UK Maritime Commercial Operations (UKMTO), the UK agency that oversees the safety of ships and seafarers worldwide.
The Strait of Hormuz is a strategic location for the traffic of goods—mainly energy—between the Middle East and Europe, China and the US, and connects the Persian Gulf with the Indian Ocean. It is a maritime passage only 34 km wide, one side of which is controlled by Iran. Between a quarter and a fifth of the world's oil passes through it, some 20 million barrels per day: tankers from Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates must pass through to reach international markets. It is also an essential passage for the export of liquefied natural gas (LNG), as Qatar, its main global exporter, transports almost all of its production via this route.
One of the ships attacked in recent hours is the Mayuree NareeA Thai-flagged vessel was struck by two projectiles, which caused a fire and damaged the engine room, according to the ship's operator, the Thai company Precious Shipping. The company also reported that three crew members are missing and believed to be trapped in the engine room, while the other 20 sailors were evacuated and taken to Oman.
Iran's Revolutionary Guard confirmed it bombed the Thai ship, claiming it was "illegally" transiting the strait after receiving warnings from the Iranian navy. It also said it attacked an "Israeli-owned" ship flying the Liberian flag.
Earlier, a Japanese container ship had been attacked ONE MajestyA Greek bulk carrier, flying the Marshall Islands flag, sustained minor damage above the waterline from an unknown projectile 46 kilometers northwest of Ras al-Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates. A Greek bulk carrier was also struck by a projectile approximately 80 kilometers northwest of Dubai. In both cases, there were no crew injuries.
Iranian Threats
Iranian authorities had insisted in recent days that the Strait of Hormuz was not closed. However, the ongoing armed conflict has resulted in a blockade. de factowith thousands of ships stuck around the passage. And in recent hours, the Iranian regime has escalated its rhetoric and threats. "We will not allow a single liter of oil to reach the US, the Zionists [Israel], or their partners. Any ship or tanker heading this way will be a legitimate target," said Ebrahim Zolfaqar, spokesman for the Khatam al-Anbiya headquarters, which coordinates the military with the Revolutionary Guard. "Prepare for the price of oil to reach $200 a barrel, because the price of oil depends on the regional security that you have destabilized," he added. In a statement, the Revolutionary Guard indicated that the Strait of Hormuz remains under the "intelligent management" of its naval forces and warned that "the US aggressors and their partners have no right to transit through it." Minelayers
Military sources said early this morning that Iran was preparing to mine the strait, and Donald Trump warned the ayatollahs' regime against it. In a confusing message, the US president said he didn't believe Iran had done so, but that, if it had, "it had better remove the mines." Later, US Central Command announced on social media that it had attacked 16 Iranian mine-laying vessels near the Strait of Hormuz.
The United States has struck the Iranian navy, but experts warn that Iran doesn't need conventional warships to threaten oil tanker traffic. It could use other vessels, such as mini-submarines or speedboats. In fact, the US Secretary of Energy stated early this morning that Iran had already implemented this strategy, but later deleted the message.