Iran's Hormuz Attacks Signal No Compromise on Strait Control

Renewed Attacks Underscore Iran’s Hardline Position

According to a report by The Maritime Executive, a fresh wave of IRGC attacks on merchant vessels in the Strait of Hormuz on July 6-7 signals that Iranian hardliners currently hold sway over policy toward the vital waterway, with little sign of willingness to negotiate transit rights during or after the current 60-day talks window.

Two Tankers Struck, Others Rerouted

Two vessels were confirmed hit on July 6. The Marshall Islands-flagged, Nakilat-owned tanker Al Rekayyat (IMO 9397339) was struck by a drone near Limah on the Musandam Peninsula while transiting via the Omani coastal channel after loading at Ras Laffan. The strike ignited an engine room fire that crew managed to extinguish, allowing the vessel to continue its voyage. Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the tanker’s Qatari ownership — notable given that Doha is simultaneously hosting and mediating the U.S.-Iran technical talks.

The second vessel, the Saudi-flagged, Bahri-operated VLCC Wedyan (IMO 9524970), had loaded at Ras Tanura on July 3 and was struck while underway, leaving a visible oil sheen in satellite imagery before it was last tracked near Fujairah.

Additional incidents followed on July 7: an LNG carrier reversed course after being threatened over VHF Channel 16 by the IRGC Navy; another tanker was hit but able to proceed; and a Liberian-flagged LNG carrier was ordered into the Iranian navigation channel.

Traffic Patterns Reflect Growing Caution

Data cited from Kpler shows the pressure campaign is reshaping transit behavior. On July 6, 25 vessels transited the strait, but that figure dropped sharply to seven by late on July 7. This compares with an average of roughly 40 transits per day over the prior week, itself already down substantially from the approximately 125 daily transits recorded before February 28. Many vessels have reportedly shifted toward using the Iranian-controlled navigation channel rather than the Omani coastal route, apparently in response to radio warnings from Iranian forces.

Political Backdrop in Tehran

The report notes that the current mood within Iran’s leadership is dominated by hardline factions, including the IRGC and Paydari elements, while more pragmatic figures — such as chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi — have faced public hostility at recent funeral proceedings. The Houthi delegation present at those events is also described as being in a highly confrontational posture, adding further uncertainty to whether any near-term diplomatic opening exists.

What This Means for Owners and Operators

For ship owners, managers, and charterers moving tankers and gas carriers through the Gulf, this pattern of strikes and forced route diversions raises the operational stakes well beyond routine transit risk assessments. Vessels are being compelled to choose between contested coastal channels and Iranian-controlled routes under duress, a decision now carrying direct implications for insurance, crew safety, and voyage planning. The drop in daily transits — from roughly 125 before the crisis to single digits by mid-week — suggests that many operators are already recalculating whether the commercial value of a Hormuz passage justifies the exposure.

This also reinforces the importance of pre-transit condition and structural surveys, particularly for vessels that have sustained near-miss damage, fire exposure, or hull stress from evasive maneuvering. Engine room fires like the one aboard Al Rekayyat, even when extinguished quickly, can leave latent damage to machinery, wiring, or insulation that only becomes evident under a thorough post-incident inspection. Owners transiting or having recently transited the Strait should treat independent condition surveys as a priority before continuing trading, both to protect asset value and to support any insurance or charter-party claims arising from disruption or damage in the region.

With no clear resolution in sight and CENTCOM reportedly weighing the timing of any response, the risk environment in the Strait of Hormuz remains fluid. Operators should expect continued volatility in transit conditions and plan contingencies accordingly, including realistic timelines for inspection and survey support in the event of damage or diversion.

Reviewed by Ibrahim Halil Ceylan, Marine Surveyor at Apeks Marine.