US and Iran both claim control of Strait of Hormuz amid attacks on vessels

What the report says

Dozens of ships have been attacked in or near the Strait of Hormuz in October, according to Al Jazeera, as the United States and Iran each try to project control over the vital shipping lane. The article said the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency reported at least 12 vessel attacks in the week ending October 16, while noting that some incidents could not be fully verified because many ships did not report details.

Al Jazeera reported that the attacks have disrupted transit through one of the world’s most important energy chokepoints. It cited Kpler figures showing oil flows through the strait at 11.6 million barrels per day over the seven days to October 13, below the pre-war baseline of 17.1 million barrels per day. The piece also noted that Brent crude rose to $110 a barrel on Friday, reflecting market concern over the violence and wider regional tensions.

The US military and Iranian officials offered sharply different accounts of what is happening at sea. US Central Command said the strait is controlled by the US and regional partners, not Iran, and claimed ships are being hit by projectiles. Iranian forces, by contrast, said vessels are striking mines and that the waterway remains unsafe for ships that do not coordinate with Tehran. Al Jazeera reported that two vessels were said to have been hit by naval mines this week, underscoring the disputed nature of the incidents.

The article said diplomacy is continuing through regional mediators, but no breakthrough appears near. It also placed the dispute in the context of the broader US-Iran conflict and the strategic importance of Hormuz, which carries a large share of global oil and gas traffic.