Two commercial vessels report incidents near the critical waterway as Iran warns of broader disruptions to global shipping routes.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Two commercial tankers reported separate security incidents near the Strait of Hormuz overnight, as Iran warned that continued U.S. military pressure could disrupt additional strategic shipping routes, raising concerns about global energy supplies and further escalation in the five-month conflict.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), a British military-linked maritime security organization, confirmed reports of two incidents near the entrance to the strategic waterway off Oman. In the first, a tanker approximately 11 nautical miles northeast of Limah was struck by an “unknown projectile,” damaging its engine room and leaving the vessel unable to maneuver. UKMTO noted there were no reported injuries or environmental damage.
Shortly afterward, the master of another tanker, about 21 nautical miles northeast of Khasab, reported seeing a large splash and explosion near the vessel, though no damage or injuries were reported.
Separately, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed it had struck two oil tankers traveling under what it described as a U.S. military escort after they allegedly used an unauthorized route. This claim has not been independently verified.
These incidents underscore the growing threats to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime chokepoint through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supplies typically pass.
Iran responded with a warning that continued U.S. military operations and the naval blockade could further disrupt regional shipping. “The continuation of the naval blockade and warmongering by the U.S. regime will not only lock the Strait of Hormuz tighter, but will also shut down other straits and choke points,” Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, told Iran’s WANA news agency. “The price for this will be paid by the global economy, the energy market, and American voters,” he added.
The maritime incidents occurred as President Donald Trump signaled the U.S. is prepared to intensify military operations against Iran. “We will be hitting them very hard,” Trump stated Friday during a Cabinet meeting at Camp David. “And you know at some point, they’re going to say, ‘We just can’t take it anymore.'”
The Wall Street Journal, citing U.S. officials, reported that Trump has ordered preparations for another round of strikes that could begin as soon as this weekend, though the operation could still be canceled if diplomatic progress is achieved. Axios reported that Trump is considering attacks on Iranian energy infrastructure but has not yet made a final decision.
Elsewhere in the region, military activity continued. Kuwait reported that its air defenses intercepted hostile Iranian drones targeting vital facilities, resulting in property damage but no casualties. Earlier this week, Egypt reported a drone strike on two ships at the Mediterranean port of Damietta, marking the first reported attack on Egyptian territory since the conflict began.
Security officials have also expressed growing concerns that Iran or its proxies could threaten the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which links the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, potentially disrupting another major shipping route.
Oil markets remained volatile as investors monitored developments around the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude settled above $90 per barrel Friday, while West Texas Intermediate closed above $84 as traders assessed the risk of further attacks on commercial shipping and energy infrastructure.
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