Iran Claims Seven Vessels Attacked or Struck Mines in the Gulf
Cubierto por 3 fuentesPublicado
Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed that seven commercial vessels were attacked or struck mines in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz over the past 24 hours. According to the Iranian naval force, four of these vessels were conducting ship-to-ship oil transfers in the north-central Gulf when they came under simultaneous attack and caught fire, while the other three reportedly struck naval mines west of the Strait of Hormuz, which set them ablaze and left them immobilized.
Trump Accuses Iran of Fabricating the Attacks
US President Donald Trump responded to Iran's claims by accusing Tehran of inventing attacks to push up oil prices ahead of the November 3 midterm elections. In a post on Truth Social, Trump argued that Iran is fabricating nonexistent strikes and mines, claiming that more oil is currently flowing through the Strait of Hormuz than before the conflict began.
Claims Without Independent Verification
None of the seven incidents has been independently confirmed. Iran did not identify the names of the vessels, their flags, their owners, or the US company that, according to the IRGC, would be involved in the crude oil transfers, nor did it release any data on casualties or spills. UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) has not issued new alerts matching Iran's claims, and the Joint Maritime Information Center had previously dismissed earlier Iranian claims about mines as unfounded, while US Central Command has also, in the past, dismissed this type of claim as part of an intimidation strategy.
Other Incidents Reported in the Region
Beyond the seven cases reported by Iran, other recent incidents were reported in the area: an unidentified tanker was hit by a projectile 11 nautical miles west of Bukha, Oman, sparking a fire that was brought under control with no crew injuries, and another vessel was struck by a projectile 30 nautical miles southeast of Al Faw, Iraq, with no damage or injuries reported. The International Maritime Organization has recorded 119 confirmed maritime security incidents in the Middle East since the start of hostilities, with 24 seafarers killed, and noted that the tanker Al Dasma suffered a second attack on October 20.
Impact on Traffic and Oil Costs
The ship-to-ship transfer system called into question by Iran is part of an improvised network that, with US military assistance, allows Gulf producers to move crude oil while avoiding routes under Iranian control, albeit at an extraordinary cost: the International Energy Agency reported that tanker freight rates from the Gulf to Asia exceeded $37 per barrel, more than five times pre-war levels. UKMTO recorded just 254 vessel transits in the week ending October 14, a 70% drop from pre-conflict levels, and documented 12 attacks during that period, including the sinking of the Singapore-flagged container ship GFS Pride following an attack on October 13.
