TEHRAN: Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed that seven vessels were damaged in incidents in and around the Strait of Hormuz within 24 hours, raising fresh concerns about commercial shipping amid escalating regional tensions.
According to Iranian state media, citing the IRGC Navy, four vessels involved in ship-to-ship oil transfers caught fire after being targeted, while three others struck naval mines west of the strait. Iranian authorities have not confirmed the nationalities of the vessels involved. The claims had not been independently verified, and the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) had not reported seven separate attacks during the same period.
The latest reports come as US President Donald Trump has warned Iran against further escalation. The IRGC has also threatened to expand its response to US military bases in the region if American forces continue supporting commercial shipping through the waterway. The United States has maintained a naval blockade targeting Iranian maritime traffic, while tensions over access to the strait continue to threaten shipping operations and energy markets.
In a related incident on October 21, the Kuwait-flagged oil product tanker M/T Al Dasma, carrying 21 Indian seafarers, was struck by an unidentified projectile while transiting the Strait of Hormuz. India’s Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, confirmed that all 21 Indian crew members and the other crew members aboard were safe. The government is monitoring the situation and remains in contact with the vessel’s management company. The UKMTO tracked the incident about 11 nautical miles west of Bukha, Oman.
Meanwhile, fighting involving Yemen’s internationally recognized government and the Houthi movement has intensified. Yemeni government forces claimed they carried out 835 strikes against Houthi positions and military movements over a 24-hour period, reporting that about 285 fighters and commanders had been killed or neutralized. These figures remain claims by the government forces. Saudi Arabia has also issued emergency alerts amid concerns about possible attacks, although the latest reports said the immediate danger in Riyadh had passed.
The developments underline the growing risks facing commercial vessels navigating the Strait of Hormuz, a key passage for global oil shipments. The identities of the seven vessels cited by Iran and the full circumstances of the reported incidents remain unclear, while maritime security agencies continue monitoring the waterway.
