Hormuz attacks continue: the US and Iran both claim control of the strait

Ships confirmed attacked, week to Oct 16

12 ships

At least 12 ships were attacked in the week ending Oct 16, the UK Maritime Trade Operations agency reported, but it said most attacked vessels refuse to report to it. Of the 12, one sank and two were disabled.

“The Strait of Hormuz is controlled by the United States and our regional partners, not Iran,” said Brad Cooper, chief of US Central Command. He said 400 ships and 100 million barrels of oil went through the strait in the past week.

— Brad Cooper, US Central Command

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said a supertanker carrying more than two million barrels of crude struck a naval mine on an “unauthorised” route and caught fire. US Central Command says it has cleared the strait of mines and that ships are being hit by projectiles.

Brent crude touched US$110 a barrel on Friday for the first time since May as the attacks went on. Oil flows through the strait were about 68 per cent of their pre-war level in the week to Oct 13, according to the data firm Kpler.