American military leaders say shipping lanes remain open despite Iranian attacks, while Tehran insists vessels are navigating an unsafe waterway.
United States military leaders and Iranian authorities traded conflicting claims of authority over the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday after dozens of commercial vessels came under attack in the waterway during October.
The confrontation followed an increase in strikes during the first half of the month, which marked the highest attack rate since the war involving the United States, Israel and Iran started on February 28, Al Jazeera reported. Late Friday, US Central Command Commander Adm. Brad Cooper stated that 400 ships and 100 million barrels of crude oil safely passed through the passage over the prior week despite the disruption. Cooper said, “Let me be clear: The Strait of Hormuz is controlled by the United States and our regional partners, not Iran,” while accusing Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of attacking out of desperation.
Disputes over transit safety and naval blockades
US Central Command spokesperson Capt. Tim Hawkins told Fox News Digital that about 97% of vessels attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz have succeeded without being struck by Iranian weapons. Hawkins said Iranian efforts to halt shipping have failed to close the corridor, adding, “It is open, it is available for transit, and we’ve seen that transit continue this very day.”
American forces have coordinated protection for thousands of vessels across recent months while stationing more than 50,000 personnel in the Middle East. Hawkins reported that the USS Rafael Peralta is helping enforce a military blockade of Iranian ports that bars non-humanitarian shipments without American clearance. The United States claimed this blockade has cost Iran $25 billion in oil export earnings and noted the seizure of $350 million in Iranian cryptocurrency funding.
Tehran disputed Washington’s transit assessments, stating that American officials are inflating shipping numbers to portray their naval campaign as successful. Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority, established during the war to oversee the waterway, continues to assert that the route is unsafe for vessels operating outside its coordinated channels.
Attacks on cargo vessels and tankers
At least 12 ships suffered attacks during the week ending October 16, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations. The maritime body cautioned that it cannot determine the full scale of incidents because most targeted ships refuse to report strikes. Of the 12 confirmed incidents, one vessel sank, two were disabled, six reached a port or continued traveling, and three were damaged or had unconfirmed outcomes.
A separate strike took place Saturday when a tanker master reported that a rocket-propelled grenade launched from a small boat hit the ship’s aft port quarter roughly 78 nautical miles northeast of Jubail, Saudi Arabia.
Disagreements also emerged over how ships are being damaged. The Revolutionary Guard claimed Saturday that a supertanker holding more than two million barrels of crude caught fire after running into a mine on an unauthorized route. Central Command disputed that account, saying US forces cleared the strait of naval mines and that ships are being hit by projectiles instead. A similar dispute involved the Singapore-flagged container ship GFS Pride, which Fox News Digital reported was struck by an Iranian projectile on Wednesday, while Al Jazeera noted the incident on Thursday. Both sources confirmed the vessel caught fire and sank while being towed toward shore.
Why the waterway matters to energy markets
Before the war, the Strait of Hormuz carried about 20% of global oil and natural gas shipments. A tanker shuttle program coordinated between the United States and Arab partners has allowed some traffic to continue, but volumes still fluctuate from week to week.
Data from Kpler showed oil moving through the channel averaged 11.6 million barrels daily across the week ending October 13, representing 68% of the pre-war baseline of 17.1 million barrels daily. Attacks by Iran-aligned Houthis on Saudi energy sites and their seizure of the Bab al-Mandeb strait have placed further strain on maritime trade. Brent crude climbed to $110 per barrel on Friday, reaching that price level for the first time since May.
Diplomatic contacts and possible escalation
Regional intermediaries including Pakistan and Qatar continue to pass diplomatic messages between Washington and Tehran, though officials report no immediate prospects for a breakthrough. More than 20 civilian mariners have died in Iranian attacks on commercial vessels since February, according to International Maritime Organization figures cited by Central Command.
The United States has not launched retaliatory strikes for the recent ship hits, but concerns persist that American operations could intensify following the November 3 midterm elections. Reports indicate President Donald Trump instructed the military to stay ready for expanded attacks, potentially involving the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast weapon. Iranian acting Defence Minister Majid Ibn Reza said Saturday that Iranian missiles will dictate the outcome of the conflict rather than American ordnance.
