Iran Says Seven Oil Tankers Attacked in Strait of Hormuz as War Fears Intensify

Iran has reported that seven vessels were hit or damaged in incidents around the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, raising fresh concerns about a possible return to full-scale conflict between Tehran and the United States and Israel.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy said on Thursday that four vessels involved in what it described as illegal oil transfers in the northern Persian Gulf were struck on Wednesday and caught fire. It added that three other vessels had hit naval mines west of the Strait of Hormuz.

The claims were reported by Iranian state media, but the incidents had not been independently verified. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), a British maritime security monitoring agency, had not reported the latest incidents at the time of the Associated Press report.

Iran’s military also issued a warning to the United States, saying further provocations could trigger a broader response against American military bases in the region. Tehran has repeatedly opposed US involvement in guiding commercial vessels through the strategic waterway, which it considers central to its leverage in the conflict.

The latest reports come amid heightened tensions following the war that began with US and Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28. Although diplomatic efforts have continued, both sides remain at odds over maritime access, sanctions and conditions for ending the conflict.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Wednesday that Tehran remained open to diplomacy but was prepared to defend itself. Mediators have continued efforts to bring Washington and Tehran back to formal negotiations, although a proposed arrangement to end the war and reopen the strait was previously rejected by US President Donald Trump.

The United States has also been increasing its military presence in the region, including deploying additional naval assets and troops, according to reports. The developments have heightened fears that renewed attacks could spread across the Middle East and further disrupt commercial shipping.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important energy corridors, connecting the Persian Gulf with international shipping routes. Before the war, roughly one-fifth of global oil consumption passed through the waterway. Any sustained disruption could affect oil and gas deliveries, raise shipping and insurance costs, and put additional pressure on global energy prices.

The latest incidents add to a series of reported attacks on commercial vessels in and around the strait in recent weeks. Shipping companies and maritime authorities continue to face security risks as tensions persist.

It remains unclear whether the seven vessels reported by Iran were all oil tankers, and independent confirmation of the latest incidents was not immediately available.