World · Middle East · 5 hrs ago
US and Iran make competing claims over Strait of Hormuz
Iran and the United States are competing to control the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil and gas shipments.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations agency said at least 12 ships were attacked in or near the strait in the week ending October 16, though it said some attacks may go unreported.
Iran's Revolutionary Guard warned that the strait was closed, while Iranian media claimed two tankers hit mines; that mine claim has not been independently confirmed.
US Central Command chief Brad Cooper said 400 ships and 100 million barrels of oil passed through in a week and claimed the US and its regional partners control the waterway.
Oil flows were about 68 percent of their pre-war level, and Brent crude reached $110 a barrel, as attacks and uncertainty put pressure on oil prices.
The competing claims and vessel attacks continue, but the available information gives no indication of what happens next.
The United States and Iran made competing claims over control of the Strait of Hormuz as attacks on vessels continued.
US Central Command chief Brad Cooper said 400 ships and 100 million barrels of oil passed through the strait in the previous week.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy warned that the strait was closed.
UKMTO reported at least 12 ship attacks in the week ending October 16, while saying many attacks might go unreported.
Iranian state media said two tankers carrying about 2 million barrels of crude caught fire after hitting sea mines, but the claim had not been independently verified.
- Who
- The United States and Iran, including Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, made competing claims. UKMTO reported vessel attacks.
- What
- Both sides asserted authority over the Strait of Hormuz; ships were attacked in or near the waterway.
- When
- The reports were published on October 17 and 18, 2026. UKMTO counted attacks in the week ending October 16.
- Where
- The Strait of Hormuz and nearby waters, including an area northeast of Jubail, Saudi Arabia.
- Why
- The two countries are competing to assert authority over the waterway amid the US-Israel war on Iran and ongoing attacks on vessels.
United States
Iran
Control of the strait
United States
Brad Cooper said the United States and its regional partners controlled the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran
Iran’s IRGC Navy warned that the strait was closed.
Vessel traffic
United States
Cooper said 400 ships and 100 million barrels of oil had moved through the strait in the past week.
Iran
Iranian state media claimed two tankers carrying about 2 million barrels of crude caught fire after hitting sea mines; the claim was not independently verified.
UKMTO reported at least 12 confirmed ship attacks, while warning that many attacks might not have been reported.
Brad Cooper said 400 ships and 100 million barrels of oil had moved through the Strait of Hormuz in the previous week.
UKMTO reported a tanker was hit by an RPG fired from a small boat northeast of Jubail, Saudi Arabia.
Iranian state media reported the IRGC claimed two tankers caught fire after hitting sea mines; the claim had not been independently verified.
- Confirmed ship attacks
- At least 12 in the week ending October 16
- US-reported traffic
- 400 ships and 100 million barrels of oil in the past week
- Oil flows through Hormuz
- 11.6 million barrels per day in the seven days to October 13
- Pre-war oil-flow baseline
- 17.1 million barrels per day
- Reported tanker cargo
- About 2 million barrels of crude, according to Iranian state media
3 sources
What people are saying
Let me be clear: The Strait of Hormuz is controlled by the United States and our regional partners, not Iran.
UKMTO is struggling to accurately report true number of attacks with majority of vessels attacked refusing to report to UKMTO
closed