Middle East war: Oil moves higher as vessel attacks persist
Brent crude has surpassed $100/bbl once again, following more attacks on vessels in the Persian Gulf region.
IMAGE: Flags of the US and Iran. Getty Images
An oil tanker was struck by an unknown projectile within the Persian Gulf on Monday, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency reported. The tanker was attempting an outbound transit of the Strait of Hormuz.
Some 13 vessels attempted to transit the strait on Monday: five inbound and eight outbound, according to market intelligence provider Windward. One of these vessels moved in dark mode. Vessel traffic remains well below the pre-war average of 140 daily transits.
On Sunday, a six-week-old Liberia-flagged oil tanker was hit in the engine room, about 3.9 nautical miles northeast of Jazirat Um Al Fayarin in Oman, according to Windward. The airstrike left the vessel disabled and adrift.
“Strikes are now landing almost daily - four between 1 and 4 October,” Windward said.
Tehran has claimed that a US Navy helicopter crashed in the Red Sea after declaring a Mayday call yesterday, its semi-official news platform Fars News Agency reported.
However, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) has flatly dismissed these claims, calling them out as false and fabricated.
Meanwhile, commercial vessels traversing the region continue to face persistent attacks, even as the US Navy maintains that it exercises firm control of the narrow corridor and routinely coordinates escorts for compliant vessels.
“Over the past 12 weeks, CENTCOM has destroyed 13 commercial vessels that were violating the blockade or part of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' multibillion-dollar shadow network,” the US agency said.
CENTCOM has had a blockade in place for ships attempting to enter or depart Iranian ports since 14 July. The operation has redirected 130 commercial vessels, disabled more than three and boarded two.
“We will swiftly act against any vessels trying to run the blockade,” CENTCOM commander Brad Cooper said on social media platform X.
By Aparupa Mazumder
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