Tehran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed responsibility for striking an oil tanker that was attempting to traverse the Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime corridor that has become a flashpoint in the ongoing U.S.-Iran military confrontation.
In a statement carried by Iranian state media, the IRGC said it targeted the Togo-flagged vessel Trend after it tried to navigate through the waterway, which Tehran considers restricted. The ship “came to a halt after catching fire,” according to the IRGC's account, though no further details on the extent of damage or casualties were immediately provided.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) Centre, which monitors and responds to incidents on key trade routes, reported a “security incident” overnight approximately 16 nautical miles from Khasab, Oman. The agency said the crew was safe and there was no reported environmental impact, but it remained unclear whether this incident was directly linked to Iran's claimed strike on the Trend.
The UKMTO also reported Friday that a separate tanker had caught fire after being hit by “an unknown projectile,” with the crew reported safe. Additionally, the operations center posted a late incident report from Wednesday detailing another tanker strike by an “unknown projectile,” also with no crew casualties.
The Strait of Hormuz, which normally carries about a fifth of the world's daily oil consumption, has been effectively closed since U.S. and Iranian military operations escalated in late February. That closure has sent energy prices soaring in the United States, putting political pressure on the Trump administration and Republican lawmakers ahead of the midterm elections.
President Trump, during a rally in North Carolina on Wednesday, sought to downplay the economic fallout, telling supporters that higher gas prices were a “very inexpensive price to pay” for the ongoing conflict. The next day, he told Axios he was weighing “a big decision” about the future of the six-month-long confrontation, saying, “Do I want to go in and annihilate them [the Iranian regime] or do I not? It's a big decision. Anything could happen with me.”
The latest strike adds to a series of attacks on shipping in the region, which have included fatal incidents on cargo vessels and attacks on tankers leaving the strait. Analysts warn that the closure of the waterway could have long-term implications for global energy supply, though some administration officials have suggested that the route may become less critical within a few years.
As the standoff continues, the White House has signaled no immediate de-escalation. The president's comments, coupled with the IRGC's latest provocation, suggest that the conflict could intensify further, with the Strait of Hormuz remaining a central battleground in the broader U.S.-Iran confrontation.
