No Ship is Safe: The US/Iran War Again Threatens Vessels in the Strait of Hormuz
US Central Command releases footage of multiple strikes on Iranian oil tankers causing spike in price per barrel and Iran expanding the “no-go” zone within and around the Strait
After months of relative calm, the US/Iran conflict has flared up once again. In the early hours of September 5th - 7th, the United States launched an attack, though the type of munitions used has not yet been confirmed, on 5 Iranian oil tankers in and around the Strait of Hormuz. This attack, the most destructive in months, elicited a large and coordinated response from the Iran regime, which targeted a total of 12 vessels.
Relative Peace Only Lasts So Long
In response to a reported ballistic strike launched by Iran on the US Al-Azraq base in Jordan, the United States launched a devastating strike on the oil tankers M/T Kavis, M/T Charminar, M/T Horizon 1, M/T Riesco, and M/T Derya.
Of those vessels, all were within the Gulf of Oman bar the oil tanker M/T Derya which was anchored off of Kharg Island, the small strategic island which had been previously subject US strikes earlier on in the war effort.
Confirming US CENTCOM’s statements, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported “several [vessels] were subject to disabling fire as part of the ongoing military activity in the region”.
Further, all five vessels struck by US munitions were reportedly disabled and subsequently sank, thereby escalating the already tense situation within the Strait of Hormuz. While the environmental impact of the strikes is yet unknown, it can be expected to cause significant impact.
Iran Responds with Equal Volatility
In response to the US strikes, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard launched an attack on “two US vessels and eight oil tankers”; with a further ten “non-compliant vessels” attacked as well. These attacks culminated in the days following the original strikes and threaten to prolong the heavy military operations which have destabilized the region since the 28th of February this year.
Economic Turbulence in the Region
The economy responded in key to this return of hostilities, with the price of crude oil jumping to over $100/barrel in the immediate aftermath. Additionally, the transport of oil through the Strait has shrunk to just 2 million barrels a day, a nearly 80% decline in comparison to August.
While both nations’ strikes appeared to be targeted solely on their respective adversaries vessels, the Strait remains a highly contentious passage and therefore requires the utmost caution when navigating through.
Of note for ship captains and those navigating the Strait of Hormuz and the surrounding region, Iran has established a new ‘prohibited zone” on Wednesday, the 8th of September, which encompasses parts of the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. While the exact coordinates have not yet been made known, it is advised to steer clear from the region and to remain at MARSEC Level 3 when making any voyages through or near.
A Region of Two Campaigns
Complicating the situation further, these strikes by the United States and Iran correspond with an increase in hostilities between Saudi Arabia and Ansar Allah (the Houthi rebels) in and around the Red Sea. Threatening vessels within the Red Sea as well as the Gulf of Aden, the ballistic missile and drone threat in the Middle East region remains at an all time high.
While US President Donald Trump issued a statement claiming an end to the ongoing hostilities in the Strait of Hormuz in November of this year, the probability of such a denouement is unlikely.
The Future for Navigation: Remain Extremely Vigilant
In the case of the US/Iranian strikes on vessels navigating the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman, any further operations are of yet unknown and therefore it is advised to remain cautious in the region.
Thus, the current military campaign appears no closer to resolution, while the price of crude oil per barrel remains volatile; the extent to which, and for how long, these conditions will continue to mar global operations remains the question.
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