Attacks on tankers in Hormuz at peak since start of Iran war, say tracking sources

Commercial vessels lie anchored in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas, Iran, September 4, 2026. (AP/Vahid Salemi)
Commercial vessels lie anchored in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas, Iran, September 4, 2026. (AP/Vahid Salemi)

Attacks on tankers sailing through the Strait of Hormuz hit their highest last week of any week since the Iran war began, according to maritime security sources tracking incidents, amid a bigger export push by Gulf producers.

Attacks, attempted attacks and harassment activity including drone overflights, surveillance and hailing using VHF radio by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have persisted in the strait, the US Navy-led Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) says in a note on Sunday.

“These actions continue to demonstrate Iran’s intent to assert presence along key transit lanes and maintain pressure on transiting vessels,” the JMIC says.

In the week of September 28-October 5, there had been at least 12 attacks on oil, liquefied natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas tankers around the Strait of Hormuz, according to data from three maritime security sources who analyzed incidents based on information received from the area.

That was the highest number of attacks in a single week since the US war with Iran began on February 28, the sources say.

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