Three tankers caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz after Iranian forces targeted vessels for using routes deemed illegal by Tehran, nos.nl reported.
The vessels were carrying a combined total of four million barrels of crude oil when explosions rocked the critical waterway.
Before the current conflict, roughly 20 percent of all global oil passed through the narrow shipping channel. Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and Iran all rely on the route for exporting their raw materials.
Iranian state media reported that the tankers were repeatedly warned before coming under attack. The flag states of the vessels remain unclear following the strikes.
According to Vietnam.vn, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said that three oil tankers caught fire on November 10. The vessels attempted to navigate routes that Tehran classifies as unlawful.
An IRGC marine commander claimed that the United States misleads vulnerable tankers into the zone with false statements, Newsmonkey – reported.
Energy markets reacted swiftly to the maritime disruptions in the Middle East. Crude benchmarks rose as investors dialed back hopes for a rapid de-escalation in the conflict, Investing.com reported.
Reference prices for international crude climbed 1.3 percent to $92.68 per vat. US oil futures gained 1.1 percent to reach $86.95 per vat.
Hossein Mohebi, a spokesperson for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, asserted that Iran maintains full operational control over the Strait of Hormuz. He claimed that American F-35 fighter jets cannot protect commercial vessels transiting the contested waters.
“Twee olietankers probeerden de afgelopen dag door de vaarweg te varen die Iran als illegaal beschouwt. Ze stuitten echter op problemen en kunnen het gebied nu niet verlaten, ondanks dat ze worden geëscorteerd door twee Amerikaanse F-35 gevechtsvliegtuigen,” said Hossein Mohebi, spokesperson for the Islamitische Revolutionaire Garde, Mohebi told Vietnam.vn.
The IRGC marine division also reported clearing tracking devices installed by the United States on underwater rocks. US Central Command has not yet issued an official response to the latest statements from Tehran.
Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and Iran utilize the narrow waterway to export crude oil, diesel, and liquefied gas to international markets.
Approximately 20 percent of the world’s total oil supply was transported through the strategic channel prior to the outbreak of the current conflict.
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