A container ship sank near the strait of Hormuz on Wednesday and a second cargo vessel was reportedly sinking, marking the sharpest uptick in Iranian attacks on shipping since the start of the conflict. The escalation points to an effort by Iran to close the strategic waterway.
Maritime security sources stated that the tempo increase in strikes appeared deliberate. On Wednesday, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reported at least five separate incidents, including drone strikes, targeting tankers and commercial vessels in the Hormuz area over a 48-hour period.
The Singapore-flagged container ship GFS Pride sank on Wednesday following an attack the previous day. The Antigua and Barbuda-flagged Cape Dao was reported to be sinking near the strait after being struck by a projectile on 23 September.
Iran claimed the vessel sank after hitting a naval mine while navigating an unauthorised passage. State television broadcasted a statement from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps asserting that the ship was travelling on an illegal and dangerous route when it struck the mine.
The vessel, shown tilted in the water and emitting thick smoke, was carrying 2,500 containers according to the broadcast. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations disputed the account by suggesting both ships had been hit by unidentified projectiles.
Data showed that 24 ships were hit in the two weeks leading up to 11 October, including three refined energy product tankers and two crude oil tankers. Six vessels were attacked on Sunday alone.
US fuel prices have surged by nearly 70% since the war began. Two Iranian officials stated that Tehran had adopted new tactics at the highest levels of leadership to frustrate US efforts to bring down global oil prices before the US midterm elections.
A US military official confirmed that Tehran had altered its tactics by deploying unarmed spotters in small boats to identify potential targets after radar capabilities were degraded. US forces recently confronted a dhow carrying Iranian spotters, ordered the occupants to abandon ship, and destroyed the vessel without casualties.
