Ships sink in Strait of Hormuz following Iranian attacks on cargo vessels

Iranian attacks have sunk cargo ships in the Strait of Hormuz, according to reports by CNN and The Washington Post. Video footage shows containers and debris scattered around the waterway following the recent strikes on vessels, Al Jazeera reported. [1][2][3]

The BBC reported that the Singapore-flagged vessel GFS Pride sank after it was hit by a projectile on Tuesday. Maritime authorities stated that all 21 sailors on board were evacuated safely. According to The Independent, Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed that a ship carrying 2,500 containers sank after striking a mine in the strait. [7][8][10]

Iran has stepped up its strikes on commercial ships moving through the passage in recent weeks, CNBC reported. The outlet noted that the attacks are part of an attempt by Iran to block a recovery in crude oil exports. [5][6]

Shipping traffic through the narrow channel has been largely blocked by Iran since February 2026, when the United States and Israel launched an air war against the country. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps responded by warning merchant ships, boarding and attacking vessels, and laying sea mines. As FTMQ News reported earlier, the Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. [13][14]

Prior to the conflict, approximately 25 percent of global seaborne oil trade and 20 percent of liquefied natural gas passed through the waterway. Meanwhile, ABC7 New York reported on potential measures for how the United States Navy could enforce a blockade of Iranian ports in the strait. [4][13]