Iran has carried out a series of attacks on container ships navigating the Strait of Hormuz over the past ten days, prompting searches for spilled cargo and raising concerns about maritime security in the vital shipping corridor. At least 15 vessels have been targeted, with some struck by drones and others by mines or rocket-propelled grenades. The recent escalation appears to reinforce Iran’s contested control over the strait and has contributed to an increase in global oil prices, with Brent crude nearing $108 per barrel.
On Sunday, a ship was reportedly struck by a rocket-propelled grenade launched from a small boat approximately 75 miles northeast of the Saudi port of Jubail. Earlier in the week, Iranian state media reported a ship traveling from Karachi, Pakistan, to Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates sank after hitting a mine. All 21 crew members were safely evacuated, and no injuries were reported. The vessel was carrying roughly 2,500 containers, many of which were seen adrift in the water.
Among the floating cargo, rumors circulated that some containers included high-value goods such as iPhones, a claim amplified by AI-generated images spread on social media. This spurred local fishers and others to scavenge the area. One fisherman told reporters that Arab boatmen, positioned closer to the sunken ship, arrived ahead of Iranian counterparts and used tools to access the containers and retrieve items.
Most recent incidents have taken place near the Omani coast, a route Iran considers unauthorized for maritime passage. According to the UK Maritime Trade Operations Centre (UKMTO), 12 vessels were attacked in the seven days leading up to last Friday. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has asserted it reserves the right to engage any ship passing through the strait without Iranian permission or with inactive transponders.
Authorities have instructed local fishermen to refrain from looting valuable goods from the water, emphasizing that recovered cargo remains state property. On Saturday, the IRGC reported that two oil tankers, including a supertanker carrying two million barrels of oil, were attacked. A video released by the Fars news agency appeared to show one of the tankers ablaze, but independent verification of the footage was unavailable. A third tanker was reportedly hit late Sunday. Discrepancies remain regarding the total number of vessels impacted by mines or shelling attributed to the IRGC.
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has significantly declined amid the tensions. UKMTO data showed 254 transits (125 outbound and 129 inbound) in the week ending October 14, roughly 70 percent below levels prior to the recent hostilities.
Environmental experts have voiced concerns about the ecological damage resulting from these attacks. Dr. Devaraj Asir Ramesh of Anna University in Chennai, India, noted potential threats to marine habitats from toxic debris, oil spills, and noise pollution. He highlighted the risk of hydrocarbon contamination in seagrass beds around the UAE and auditory harm to sensitive marine mammals like dolphins and porpoises caused by the acoustic disturbances. Dr. Ramesh warned that oil spills, chemical leaks, and noise could adversely affect biodiversity, fisheries, aquaculture, desalination processes, and eco-tourism in the region.