Shipping across the Gulf and the strategic Strait of Hormuz remained severely disrupted as attacks on commercial vessels intensified amid the conflict between Iran and US–Israeli forces.
Explosive-laden boats believed to be operated by Iranian forces attacked two fuel tankers in Iraqi waters late Wednesday, setting them ablaze and killing at least one crew member, maritime security sources and port officials said, marking the latest escalation in a campaign that has already struck at least 16 ships since hostilities began.
The vessels targeted in the late-night assault near Iraqi waters were the Marshall Islands-flagged Safesea Vishnu and the Malta-flagged Zefyros, which had loaded fuel cargoes in Iraq, according to Iraqi port officials.
Iraqi rescue teams evacuated 25 crew members from the burning ships, but officials said one foreign crew member was later recovered dead from the water while search operations continued for others.
The latest incident follows earlier attacks in which projectiles struck four vessels in Gulf waters, further heightening fears over maritime security in the region.
Commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz — through which about a fifth of the world’s oil passes — has slowed dramatically since the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran on February 28. The disruption has pushed global oil prices to their highest levels since 2022 and prompted governments to agree to release a record 400 million barrels of crude from strategic reserves to stabilize markets.
The security crisis has also forced the closure of Iraqi oil export terminals. Iraq’s state news agency reported that the country’s oil ports had halted operations following the attacks, citing the head of the General Company for Ports of Iraq. While commercial ports continue to operate, the suspension of oil shipments adds to the mounting pressure on global energy supplies.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has warned that if attacks on Iran continue it would not allow “one litre of oil” to be shipped via Strait of Hormuz.
Before the latest attacks, US President Donald Trump said Washington would respond forcefully if Iran attempted to block oil exports through the strait. Trump also claimed US forces had destroyed much of Iran’s naval capability in recent operations, saying “just about all of their navy is gone,” and urged tanker operators to continue using the waterway.
