- The IRGC claims responsibility for the attacks on two Emirati supertankers.
- Greek maritime companies advise ships to delay their voyages due to high risks.
- The United States insists that the Strait of Hormuz remains open to commercial traffic.
LONDON/ATHENS: Shipping companies are avoiding using a US military-guided transit plan through the Strait of Hormuz after a wave of Iranian attacks on ships sparked security concerns, seven shipping industry and maritime security sources said.
For decades, ships entered and left the Gulf using a secure set of lanes in the middle of the strait established by the U.N. shipping agency in 1968, called the Traffic Separation System.
Since the war with Iran began on February 28, Iranian forces have mined this area, forcing ships to use one of two improvised routes near the Iranian or Omani coast.
Helping keep Gulf energy exports flowing
In June, Reuters reported that the US military had assisted the vessels as part of an operation involving dozens of secret ship-to-ship oil transfers to keep energy exports flowing from the Gulf, using aerial and water drones as well as helicopters to guide the tankers.
The initiative, assisted by the United States, allowed the export of tens of millions of barrels of oil, helping to cushion the impact on energy prices of the largest disruption in oil and gas supplies ever recorded.
However, shippers are assessing the route on the Omani side of the strait as increasingly dangerous after a wave of attacks on ships.
Iran's Revolutionary Guard on Tuesday claimed responsibility for attacks on two Emirati oil supertankers.
Some five ships have been attacked since July 7 — three crude oil supertankers, an LNG tanker and a container ship — in Omani waters included in the US plan, according to an incident analysis based on data from the UN maritime agency.
It was unclear whether all ships were sailing under the US scheme, the sources said.
“The United States does not seem to have any control over the situation,” a shipping source said, adding that his company had opted not to sail through the strait due to concerns for the safety of the crew and the deteriorating security situation.
“Iran's continued ability to attack ships sailing the Oman route means that the Trump administration's proposed solution to keep ships moving is unlikely to work,” said Torbjorn Solvedt, senior Middle East analyst at risk intelligence firm Verisk Maplecroft.
White House spokeswoman Olivia Wales said the Strait of Hormuz remains open despite recent attacks on commercial shipping.
“The Strait of Hormuz is open and oil is flowing. Iran is committing acts of international terrorism by shooting at peaceful commercial vessels, attacking and killing innocent civilians, and the United States is responding forcefully,” Wales said.
Escalation as US reimposes lockdown
A U.S. defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that in the past seven days more than 100 ships had coordinated directly with the U.S. military to cross the strait and more than 300 had passed through the broader region, evidence that U.S.-led efforts were working, even if volumes remain below prewar levels.
Iran threatened on Wednesday to shut down more regional energy exports, after the United States reimposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports and both sides launched more attacks as they compete for control of the strait.
Tehran is signaling that it could use its Houthi allies in Yemen to close Bab el-Mandeb, which flows into the Red Sea, opening a new front against Washington and putting two of the world's most vital maritime arteries at risk.
Around nine Greek-operated LNG tankers, which had sailed into the Gulf through Hormuz last week to load cargoes, were stuck inside the strait due to safety concerns, another shipping source said.
Two other oil tankers have been attacked since July 7 in open waters outside the strait.
Strait is open, says Trump
US President Donald Trump said in a Truth Social post on Tuesday that the Strait of Hormuz “is open to ALL maritime traffic except Iran.”
The United States reimposed its blockade on shipping linked to Iran on Tuesday.
Last week, the US Navy-led Joint Maritime Information Center raised its rating of the risks to ships in the strait from “severe” to “substantial” and one below its highest level, “critical.”
The increase in the risk rating occurred after the attacks on three oil tankers.
In a memo issued by the US Navy after the launch of the US-coordinated plan last month, the companies were informed that efforts would be made to advise ship crews “but may not be able to communicate threats to ships in real time.”
The U.S. military had not provided enough clarity about the risks faced by ships sailing the Oman route, five of the sources said.
“They have declared that the Strait of Hormuz is 'not closed' and remains available for use,” a maritime security source said. “This makes operators nervous and unsure. While everyone needs to do their own risk assessments, this is clearly not safe, so why say it's open?”
Greek maritime security company Diaplous said in an advisory Tuesday that the threat environment remains high and advised shipping companies to suspend voyages until Saturday.
MARISKS, another Greek maritime security company, in a separate advisory, also said on Tuesday: “At this time, there is no guarantee that transits through the Strait of Hormuz can be carried out with an acceptable level of security.”
