Iran Claims Attacks on Three Tankers After Dhow Sinks in Strait of Hormuz

Tension flared up again on Thursday in the Strait of Hormuz, where Western maritime sources confirmed the sinking of a dhow while Iran claimed to have attacked three tanker vessels. According to the Iranian account, released by the Revolutionary Guard, the three vessels allegedly struck naval mines and caught fire while sailing on an unauthorized route south of the strait over the past 24 hours.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) received a report of a vessel on fire about 9 nautical miles north of Khasab, Oman, on October 29. The master of a third-party vessel reported sighting another burning vessel in the area, although the condition of the crew is unknown. Iranian state media, for their part, claimed that three tankers caught fire after allegedly striking mines in the strait.

The IRGC Navy stated that the vessels were sailing on what it described as an unauthorized southern route and had shut down their radar and navigation systems, attempting to leave the area despite warnings from Iranian forces. The agency also reported that the incidents caused environmental pollution in the strait and held the vessels' owners and crews responsible for it, while warning against what it called misleading information spread by the US Central Command (CENTCOM) and threatening a response to any action deemed provocative.

Meanwhile, the Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) reported on October 28 that the United States is enforcing a blockade on all Iranian ports and coastlines, citing the country's continued aggression and alleged illegal attempts to control the Strait of Hormuz. According to International Maritime Organization (IMO) data as of October 27, 121 confirmed incidents and 24 confirmed seafarer deaths had been recorded since the start of hostilities.

The episode occurred amid a broader escalation of attacks in the Middle East, mainly by the Iran-backed Houthis, while a Saudi Arabia-led coalition reported having intercepted a ballistic missile fired by the group toward the kingdom's eastern region. At the same time, oil prices continued to decline that Thursday amid perceptions of diplomatic efforts: Brent fell about 0.38% to $114.88 a barrel, and West Texas Intermediate dropped around 0.76% to $102.