Three Vessels Struck in Strait of Hormuz as Iran’s Grip Loosens

Key Points:

• Three vessels, including two crude oil tankers, were reported struck near the Strait of Hormuz on September 29, raising the total to four incidents this week amid Iran’s warnings and threats in the region.
• UK Maritime Trade Operations and the International Maritime Organization confirmed the attacks but provided limited details; one tanker, Mersin Prosperity, is operated by ADNOC, while the other, Sinbad, was last reported near Fujairah.
• Iran’s Fars News Agency acknowledged firing warning shots at vessels violating the Strait and reiterated Iran’s control over the waterway, threatening vessels transiting without permission.
• Despite these threats, oil flows from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Iraq continue to rise, with many tankers sailing with AIS turned off and an increasing use of pipelines to bypass the Strait.
• Analysts note a significant portion of crude is transferred via ship-to-ship operations offshore, and pipeline exports have grown to about 40 percent of total crude exports, reducing reliance on direct transit through the Strait of Hormuz.