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US-Israel-Iran War Latest Live News: The Strait of Hormuz is once again at the centre of the escalating US-Iran conflict, with Tehran warning commercial shipping operators that attempts to use routes not approved by Iran could bring further consequences. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed that two oil tankers were disabled after hitting sea mines while trying to cross the strategic waterway.
The latest claim adds another layer of uncertainty for ships attempting to move through one of the world’s most important energy corridors. It comes as the US and Iran have resumed direct military exchanges, while recent incidents involving commercial vessels have already pushed shipping companies to reconsider their movements through the strait.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest Live News: IRGC Says Two Oil Tankers Hit Mines in Hormuz
The IRGC said the two tankers struck sea mines while attempting to pass through what it described as an unauthorised or “illegal” route in the Strait of Hormuz.
According to the Iranian military force, the crews left the vessels and the ships were subsequently placed under the control of US personnel. Tehran accused Washington of encouraging commercial vessels to use a route that Iran had already warned could be dangerous.
The IRGC said it had previously warned shipping companies about the risks associated with the mined passage. It also threatened additional action against companies that follow US instructions instead of Iran’s preferred transit route.
The IRGC was quoted as saying, “The IRGC Navy had previously warned about the dangers of passing through the mined passage, and in addition, double punishments have been foreseen for shipping companies that, instead of following the legal path, fall for the deception of the United States and leave their vessels at the disposal of the enemy, which will be implemented soon,”
Iran’s claim comes amid a broader battle over who can guarantee safe passage through Hormuz. The US has said its military operations aim in part to prevent Iran from using mines and other weapons to disrupt commercial traffic.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest Live News: Tanker Incidents Raise Fresh Shipping Fears
The latest developments come after several commercial vessels faced security incidents around the Strait of Hormuz.
The Joint Maritime Information Centre reported two incidents involving commercial tankers in the past 48 hours. One tanker reported a security incident before anchoring near Jazirat Um Al Ghanam, while another vessel reported being struck by three unidentified projectiles during its outbound journey from the strait. No casualties or environmental damage were reported in those incidents, according to the maritime assessment.
Reuters also reported that shipping traffic through the waterway remained far below normal levels. Preliminary tracking data showed only four commodity vessels crossing the strait on Tuesday, compared with a 10-day average of about 13 vessels.
These figures underline the growing pressure on companies that rely on Hormuz. Even when the waterway technically remains open, security threats can make commercial operators reluctant to send ships through it.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest Live News: US Has Targeted Iran’s Mine-Laying Capability
The dispute over the waterway has also become a direct part of the US military campaign.
US forces recently attacked Iranian rocket-launcher positions on Larak Island after American officials said Iranian forces were preparing to deploy sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz. Washington has also targeted Iranian radar, air-defence systems, communication facilities and other military infrastructure linked to threats against shipping.
The US says preventing Iran from mining the waterway remains essential to protecting commercial traffic.
Iran, however, has repeatedly warned vessels against travelling through routes that Tehran does not recognise as safe or authorised. The competing claims have created a complicated situation for shipowners, who must weigh military assurances from Washington against warnings from Iranian forces operating close to the waterway.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest Live News: Why the Strait of Hormuz Matters to the World
The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the wider Arabian Sea. Its narrow shipping lanes make it one of the world’s most important energy chokepoints.
Before the current conflict severely disrupted maritime traffic, roughly one-fifth of global oil consumption moved through the waterway. Any prolonged reduction in shipping can therefore affect crude prices, refinery supplies, freight costs and inflation expectations around the world.
The impact is already visible in shipping activity. Independent tracking data shows that commercial traffic remains well below normal levels, while tanker operators face greater security risks while entering or leaving the Persian Gulf.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest Live News: Oil Markets Watch Every New Hormuz Incident
Energy markets have responded quickly to the renewed fighting and shipping disruptions.
Oil prices have moved sharply higher during the latest escalation as traders assess the possibility of further disruption to crude supplies. Reports of attacks on tankers have added to fears that the conflict could increasingly affect commercial shipping rather than remain limited to military targets.
Brent crude recently moved above $92 a barrel, while further escalation has pushed prices even higher in some market updates.
A prolonged Hormuz disruption could create problems well beyond the energy sector. Higher crude prices can increase transportation and production costs, adding pressure to inflation in economies that depend heavily on imported energy.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest Live News: US-Iran Conflict Moves Closer to Commercial Shipping
The latest tanker claims show how quickly the US-Iran confrontation is moving into the commercial maritime sector.
The United States has launched military operations aimed at stopping Iran from mining the waterway, while Iran has continued to warn ships about routes it considers unsafe. At the same time, maritime authorities have recorded attacks and security incidents involving commercial vessels.
The result is a growing gap between the two sides’ claims about whether ships can safely cross Hormuz.
For global shipping companies, the problem is no longer simply whether the strait remains technically open. The bigger question is whether vessels can cross it without facing mines, projectiles, military interference or retaliation from either side.
As US-Iran fighting intensifies, every new incident involving a tanker could therefore have consequences far beyond the Persian Gulf, potentially affecting oil prices, supply chains and inflation across the global economy.
