Four vessels were hit on Tuesday, while six were attacked on Sunday. The incidents on Sunday represented the highest number of attacks recorded in a single day since the conflict started, based on figures from maritime security data, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).
The latest attacks have raised fresh concerns about the safety of commercial shipping through the strategic waterway. Maritime sources reported that two seafarers were missing, while a container ship was said to have sunk following the recent incidents.
Iran began targeting commercial vessels passing through the strait in March, in retaliation for US and Israeli strikes on its territory. Tehran has since continued attacking ships using routes it has not approved, adding to the risks facing vessels operating in the area.
The attacks have severely disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important maritime corridors for transporting crude oil and other commodities from Gulf countries to international markets.
A total of 23 attacks have been recorded since the beginning of October, nearly twice the average monthly number of incidents reported since the war began.
The United States also said on Saturday that it had struck a cargo vessel as part of its embargo on Iranian ports. However, the incident was not included in the International Maritime Organisation’s records.
The latest rise in attacks may be linked to the recovery in energy shipments through the strait, according to Barun Gupta, an analyst at maritime security firm Vanguard.
Gupta said Gulf oil shipments had been gradually recovering, with traffic through the waterway recently reaching about 80 per cent of its prewar level before declining again.
He explained that the renewed attacks could be an attempt by Tehran to demonstrate its continued ability to disrupt shipping and undermine the recovery in global energy supplies.
The increase in attacks could also be connected to comments by US President Donald Trump last week indicating that he would not launch further attacks on Iran before the US midterm elections, Gupta suggested. He said Tehran might view the situation as an opportunity to increase pressure while facing a lower immediate risk of further US military action.
The human cost of the conflict has also continued to rise. According to the International Maritime Organisation, 24 seafarers have died in incidents in the area around the Strait of Hormuz since the war began.
The latest developments underline the continuing threat to commercial shipping through the waterway, with further attacks potentially affecting energy supplies, shipping costs and international trade.
