Attacks on commercial shipping in the Gulf intensified on Thursday as the war between the US and Iran escalated, raising concerns about disruptions to energy supplies from one of the world’s most critical oil transit routes. Nine vessels have come under attack since the conflict broke out on Saturday.
An oil tanker sailed through the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, heading to a United Arab Emirates port to load crude in a rare voyage since the Iran war severely disrupted shipping in the Middle East, according to industry sources and ship-tracking data quoted by Reuters.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) declared that the Strait of Hormuz was “closed” and that any vessel attempting to pass through the waterway would be set “ablaze.”
The Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) has announced the launch of a maritime link with Bahrain through the Gulf Shuttle shipping service operated by MSC, via King Abdulaziz Port, as part of its ongoing efforts to enhance maritime connectivity and expand shipping networks.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to discuss the evolving situation in the Middle East. He condemned the attacks on critical GCC infrastructure and emphasised the need to ensure secure maritime routes.
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.
In the Strait of Hormuz, hundreds of ships appear on maps where they should not exist. GPS signals that tankers rely on to navigate safely are being scrambled, revealing a new battlefield of invisible electronic warfare. What was once a tool for convenience has become a potential hazard, says an expert.
Shipping through the strategic Strait of Hormuz remained severely disrupted on Wednesday as Iran intensified actions aimed at blocking the critical waterway, including attacks on tankers and suspected mine-laying operations
The repercussions of the joint military operation by the US and Israel against Iran and subsequent retaliatory action will see the further weaponisation of trade and shatter prospects of a large-scale return of container shipping to the Red Sea in 2026, said a leading logistics industry expert.
APM Terminals, an independent subsidiary of A.P. Moller–Maersk, has acquired a 37.5% stake in the South Container Terminal at Jeddah Islamic Port, Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) has announced.
