Iran attacked two vessels in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday (local time), including oil tankers belonging to Saudi Arabia and South Korea. Pictured is a vessel operated by South Korean shipping company Sinokor. [Sinokor]
Iran attacked two vessels in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday (local time), including oil tankers belonging to Saudi Arabia and South Korea. Pictured is a vessel operated by South Korean shipping company Sinokor. [Sinokor]

Iran, which has resumed mutual airstrikes with the United States, attacked two oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz on the night of Monday (local time). One of the vessels struck was owned by South Korean shipping company Sinokor.

According to the Financial Times, Iran shelled a US military base in Jordan in retaliation for a US strike on Larak Island, and simultaneously attacked two oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.

The vessels targeted were the Senegal Prosperity, owned by Sinokor, and the Sidr, a Saudi Arabian-owned ship. Damage to the vessels or their crews has not been officially confirmed, with communications in the Gulf region reported to be disrupted.

Iran had earlier announced sanctions against 46 vessels for failing to follow the protocols it requires for passage through the Strait of Hormuz. The list included five ships owned by Sinokor as well as Saudi Arabian-owned vessels.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations reported Monday that one tanker had been struck by three "unknown projectiles," without identifying the vessel. The Financial Times reported that Iran has been intensifying targeted attacks on ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz. On Aug. 29, the Kuwaiti tanker Burgan was also struck by a missile while passing through the strait.

Despite the rising number of attacks on vessels in the strait, the United States has repeatedly insisted the waterway is safe and fully open. US President Donald Trump said Monday that US forces are safely escorting ships through the Strait of Hormuz, claiming an average of 30 vessels pass through under US protection each night.

However, maritime analytics firm Windward said only 10 ships transited the strait on Aug. 20 — roughly a third of the figure the US has cited. The highest daily count last week was 21 vessels, also well short of Washington's claims.


kate01@heraldcorp.com