Iran attacks on Hormuz shipping cut traffic and lift oil prices
Iran's Revolutionary Guard has threatened undersea internet cables in the waterway.
By Standard Topic. AI-generated from the reporting listed under Coverage. Published . Updated .
This story is no longer being updated. It reflects reporting up to .
What happened
Ships are being hit around the Strait of Hormuz, with Iran's Revolutionary Guard claiming tankers struck mines in the waterway. The U.S. Central Command said the claims were false and that the international waterways had been cleared of mines. On Oct 20, the Guard warned of new targets, citing seven internet cables under the strait.
Why it matters
The attacks have pushed oil prices toward record levels, with Deutsche Bank saying they imply high prices deep into 2027. The official count of attacks is incomplete, according to the body that compiles it.
Timeline
- Oct 19, 3:34 AM ET: Britain's maritime security reporting centre, UKMTO, said attacks on shipping around the Strait of Hormuz had become too numerous to track fully.
- Oct 19, 2:07 PM ET: At least 15 container ships were attacked over 10 days, and shipping traffic through the strait fell by about 70%.
- Oct 19, 9:36 PM ET: Captain DeLeo of the USS George Washington said Iran's attempts to strike U.S. ships near the strait had failed.
- Oct 20, 1:17 AM ET: Iran's Revolutionary Guard cited seven internet cables under the strait and warned of new targets, with spokesman Hossein Mohebbi promising new weapons.
- Oct 20, 11:00 AM ET: U.S. Central Command called Iran's claims about tankers hitting sea mines false and said the waterways had been cleared.
Coverage
- Tanker Catches Fire in Southern Corridor of Strait of Hormuz (zahra rezayi)
- "Iran's claims about oil tankers colliding with sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz are false", a US CENTCOM… (Newsquawk)
- Iran Warns Ships After Oil Tanker Explosion in Strait of Hormuz (Caspianpost.com)
- Violating Tanker Hits Mine South of Strait of Hormuz (Tasnim)
- Tanker struck by a sea mine in the Strait of Hormuz (1news.az)
- Iran says oil tanker hits mine in Strait of Hormuz, catches fire (firstpost.com)
- Oil Tanker Catches Fire After Mine Strike in Strait of Hormuz: Iran (chemanalyst.com)
- Two oil tankers catch fire after striking mines in Strait of Hormuz: (The Business Standard)
- Iran says two tankers catch fire after hitting mines in Strait of Hormuz (Yahoo News)
- Ship attacks in Strait of Hormuz push oil near five-month high
- Mines and attacks in Hormuz keep shipping under threat as Iran warns
- Unidentified projectiles hit tugboat off Strait of Hormuz
- Mines and attacks in Hormuz leave ships trapped as talks stall
- Iran keeps Hormuz reopening offer open as tanker hits mine
- Iran offers seven-day Hormuz reopening plan as tanker hits mine
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