Tankers Divert Course in Strait of Hormuz Amid Iranian Assertions
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Tankers Divert Course in Strait of Hormuz Amid Iranian Assertions
- At least eight vessels reversed course in the Strait of Hormuz between Friday and Saturday, with some subsequently opting for a route closer to Iran.
- These maneuvers follow maritime incidents on July 6 and 7, 2026, including missile and drone attacks on tankers, leading to an elevated threat level.
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Recent days have seen a notable shift in shipping patterns within the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global chokepoint for oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) transit. Between Friday and Saturday, at least eight ships, including oil tankers, bulk carriers, and vehicle carriers, reportedly turned back while attempting to exit the Persian Gulf along the Omani coast. Some of these vessels subsequently continued their journeys by taking a route closer to Iran.
This change in behavior comes amidst escalating tensions and Iran’s efforts to assert greater control over the waterway. On July 6, Iran launched two missile attacks on tankers in the strait, citing their failure to use Iranian-approved transit mechanisms. One attack targeted a Qatari gas tanker eight nautical miles off the coast of Limah, Oman, and the second hit a Saudi-flagged oil tanker. The following day, July 7, another tanker was struck by a drone in the vicinity of the Strait of Hormuz. These incidents prompted the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) to raise the threat classification for the Strait of Hormuz from “Substantial” to “Severe.”
The United States responded to these attacks on July 7 by revoking a general license that had permitted the sale of Iranian oil, emphasizing that Iran’s actions were “wholly unacceptable” and would have consequences. Iran, in turn, stated that commercial vessels faced risks for using routes not coordinated with Iran and warned against external interference in the strait’s management. Data from ship tracking services indicated a significant drop in transits, with only about 16 vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz on July 7, far below the average of 125 daily sailings before the ongoing conflict began on February 28, 2026.