Two More Tankers Hit in Hormuz as US Vows New Economic Pressure on Iran
Fresh attacks on two tankers in the Strait of Hormuz have slowed traffic, as the US pledges new economic measures against Iran.
Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz slowed sharply on Friday after two more vessels were attacked, with the United States vowing to intensify economic pressure on Iran. The UAE blamed Iran for the attacks on two ships owned by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, which were transiting the strait on Thursday evening. Iran has not commented on the incident.
Ship-tracking data from Kpler shows nine vessels passed through the waterway on Thursday, up from five on Wednesday but well below the August average of 12. No visible crossings were recorded early Friday. Before the war began in February, more than 130 ships used the strait daily.
The strait remains a key point of leverage for Iran in negotiations, according to analysts. Tehran has said it will not allow the waterway to reopen until its conditions are met, including the removal of sanctions and release of frozen assets. An Iranian parliamentary committee has approved a plan for the strait that would ban transit by US, Israeli, and other hostile vessels.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the Navy can maintain its blockade of Iran indefinitely by rotating ships in and out of the region. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said new financial measures are coming next week, describing them as unprecedented in the history of economic isolation.
The attacks come as India's reliance on Russian crude hit a record high in July, and Asian refineries have been buying US crude to secure supplies. Oil prices remained steady, with Brent near $87 and West Texas Intermediate around $81 per barrel. Concerns about a wider regional conflict were also renewed by reports that Yemen's Houthis targeted a Saudi Aramco refinery with drones.