Iran claims it will close transit routes in Strait of Hormuz deemed illegal
- A tanker sailing off the north coast of Qatar was struck by multiple projectiles on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, causing an unknown number of casualties in the Gulf...
- The Wednesday strike occurred as attacks on vessels navigating the Strait of Hormuz reached their highest weekly level since the Iran war began on February 28, 2026.
- Those figures outpaced the previous weekly high of eight incidents logged in mid-July.
A tanker sailing off the north coast of Qatar was struck by multiple projectiles on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, causing an unknown number of casualties in the Gulf about 300 miles west of the Strait of Hormuz, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations.
Tanker Attacked Off Qatar Amid Record Strait of Hormuz Incidents
The Wednesday strike occurred as attacks on vessels navigating the Strait of Hormuz reached their highest weekly level since the Iran war began on February 28, 2026. Data from three maritime security sources showed at least 12 attacks on oil, liquefied natural gas, and liquefied petroleum gas tankers around the strait in the week leading up to October 5. Separately, the United Nations shipping agency, the International Maritime Organization, recorded nine incidents for the same week.
Those figures outpaced the previous weekly high of eight incidents logged in mid-July. Nearly 20 commercial ships have come under attack over the past month while sailing through Hormuz, the Persian Gulf, or off the coast of Oman, according to the Joint Maritime Information Center. Windward analyst Michelle Wiese Bockmann noted that Iran attacked roughly two ships for every 100 vessels crossing the strait in the third quarter.
Disputed Control and Rising Shipping Costs Threaten Global Oil Flows
Iran announced on Wednesday, October 7, that it would close transit routes in the Strait of Hormuz deemed illegal by Tehran, specifically targeting a southern pathway hugging Oman’s coast. Mohammadreza Naqdi, an adviser to the Revolutionary Guards’ Commander, told the Fars news agency that smuggling routes used by small boats would soon be closed and asserted that armed forces of the Islamic Republic hold full control over the waterway. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio disputed that claim on Wednesday, stating that Iran had lost complete control of the strait and that oil export volumes were nearly back to prewar levels.
Discrepancies remain over actual transit volumes. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps adviser Majid Mirahmadi stated on Thursday, October 8, that a daily average of 10 ships were transiting compared to 125 before the war. Conversely, Kpler data published on Monday, October 5, showed shipments averaging 10.3 million barrels per day for the week ended October 3, roughly 23 percent below a prewar baseline of 13.5 million barrels per day, while reaching prewar levels during parts of September due to a U.S. Navy-protected shipping corridor along Oman’s coast.
Richard Meade, editor-in-chief of Lloyd’s List, stated in a briefing that oil flows have recovered because market participants accepted greater operational complexity and higher costs. Shipping crude from the Persian Gulf to China has surged to $1 million per day for each tanker. Bob McNally, president of Rapidan Energy, described the U.S. military commitment, ship-to-ship transfers, and shuttle systems as an inefficient and financially unsustainable way to move commodities. Amid these supply concerns and mixed messaging, Brent crude futures rose, topping $100 per barrel on Wednesday.
Trump Considers Military Operations Against Iran Before Midterm Elections
The ongoing maritime stalemate has increased pressure on U.S. President Donald Trump, with U.S. media reporting he is considering resuming military operations against Iran in the coming weeks, potentially before November’s midterm elections. Americans continue to face high gasoline and diesel costs as a direct result of the conflict. The U.S. military has maintained a counter-blockade of Iranian ports, occasionally firing on Tehran-linked vessels and bombing Iranian targets in retaliation for attacks on shipping, though no such counterstrikes have been reported since September 1.