U.S.-Iran war evolves into naval standoff over Strait of Hormuz after both countries seize ships
The U.S. and Iran seized commercial ships from the Persian Gulf to the Indian Ocean this week, as they compete for control of the Strait of Hormuz during the ceasefire agreement.
Brent oil, the international benchmark, has risen above $100 per barrel again as tanker traffic through the strait remains at a near standstill.
Two cargo vessels, but no tankers, have crossed the strait so far Thursday, according to ship tracking data from LSEG. At least nine tankers have transited the sea lane since Monday, the data showed.
The fragile truce between Washington and Tehran has silenced – for now – the bombs, missiles and drones that caused death and destruction across the Middle East earlier in the war.
But the conflict has evolved into a confrontation between naval blockades, as the U.S. and Iran try to gain economic leverage over each other in order to secure a settlement that is favorable to their interests.
Iran continues to demand that ships obtain its permission to transit the strait, while President Donald Trump on Thursday claimed the U.S. has “total control” over the sea lane. The U.S. Navy, meanwhile, has maintained its blockade of Iranian ports and vessels.
Trump said no ship is allowed to enter or leave the strait without the approval of the Navy. “It is ‘Sealed up Tight,’ until such time as Iran is able to make a DEAL!!!” the president said.
It is unclear how long the ceasefire can hold before the naval standoff between the U.S. and Iran turns into a shooting war again. Trump on Thursday said he ordered the U.S. Navy to “kill any boat” that is laying mines in the the strait.
U.S. forces on Thursday intercepted a sanctioned tanker in the Indian Ocean that was carrying oil from Iran, the Pentagon said in a social media post. The U.S. recently blocked the Iranian tankers M/V Hero II, M/V Hedy and M/V Dorena, U.S. Central Command said Wednesday.
Iran, meanwhile, claimed Wednesday to have seized two cargo ships that attempted to transit the Strait of Hormuz “without authorization,” according to the state news agency Tasnim.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre warned ships Wednesday that activity in the strait is high and they should report any suspicious behavior.
The notice came after an Iranian gunboat fired on a container ship Tuesday causing heavy damage to the bridge of the vessel, according to an incident report from UKMTO.
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