IRGC says it struck Hormuz tanker over 'illegal route' as Yemen forces move on Bab al-Mandab
IRGC says it struck Hormuz tanker over ‘illegal route’ as Yemen forces move on Bab al-Mandab
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said on Friday that its naval forces had struck a Hormuz tanker, a giant liquefied petroleum gas carrier, in the Strait of Hormuz, accusing the vessel of transiting through what it called an “illegal route” south of the strategic waterway. The claim, which has not been independently verified, marks a sharp escalation in the campaign against commercial shipping that has gripped the world’s most important oil chokepoint.
The IRGC identified the vessel as the NV Sunshine, owned by a company it named as NatWit, and said the strike caused extensive fire in the ship’s engine room and propulsion system. It warned that action against vessels using unauthorised routes would no longer be confined to the Strait of Hormuz, saying violators would be pursued and punished across the entire region.
The widening Hormuz tanker campaign
The IRGC statement blamed what it called the “aggressive US army” for the incidents, accusing Washington of interfering with and deceiving shipping and insurance companies and of paying bribes to cause such episodes. It warned that companies it believed were deceived by the Americans would face sanctions, and said that continued United States intervention would make such “bitter” incidents increasingly frequent.
The strike fits a pattern that has alarmed the shipping industry. At least 12 attacks and attempted attacks on oil, gas and petroleum tankers were recorded around the strait between September 28 and October 5, according to maritime security sources cited by Reuters, the highest weekly figure since the United States-Iran war began on February 28. The US Navy-led Joint Maritime Information Center has reported persistent IRGC activity in the strait, including drone overflights, surveillance and radio harassment of vessels. Commercial traffic has fallen sharply, with analytics firm Kpler reporting that only seven commodity vessels passed through the strait on Tuesday, the lowest in more than two months.
The United States military has previously disputed Iranian claims about shipping incidents. In August, US Central Command rejected an IRGC assertion that a supertanker had struck naval mines in the strait, calling it disinformation meant to intimidate commercial shipping.
Yemen’s government forces move on Bab al-Mandab
Separately, Yemeni government forces have launched an operation to retake the strategic Bab al-Mandab strait and the port town of Mocha from Houthi rebels, according to regional reports. The strait connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and is a vital corridor for international shipping.
The renewed fighting has already displaced more than 200,000 people since early September, according to the UN’s International Organization for Migration. Aden, whose airport serves as the main international gateway for areas outside Houthi control, has seen some of the heaviest pressure.
Why it matters for oil and for Pakistan
About a fifth of the world’s seaborne oil moves through the Strait of Hormuz, and the two flashpoints together threaten both the Gulf export route and the Red Sea corridor. War-risk insurance premiums for tankers have widened and charter rates for large carriers have climbed, costs that eventually feed into fuel prices worldwide.
For Pakistan, which imports most of its fuel, any sustained disruption in the Gulf translates directly into pressure on petrol and diesel prices at home. The government only this week revised fuel prices for the second half of October, and further volatility in the strait would complicate the next review.
Frequently asked questions
What did the IRGC claim about the Hormuz tanker?
The IRGC said its naval forces struck an LPG carrier, the NV Sunshine, in the Strait of Hormuz for using what it called an “illegal route” south of the waterway, causing fire in the engine room. The claim has not been independently confirmed.
Why is the Strait of Hormuz so important?
The strait is the only sea passage from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean. Roughly a fifth of global seaborne oil passes through its narrow shipping lanes, making any disruption a direct threat to world energy supplies.
What is happening at Bab al-Mandab?
Yemeni government forces are reported to be trying to retake the Bab al-Mandab strait and the port of Mocha from Houthi rebels. The strait is the southern entrance to the Red Sea and a critical shipping lane between Asia and Europe.
