Attacks on tankers around the Strait of Hormuz reached their highest weekly count of the U.S. war with Iran in the week of Sept. 28 to Oct. 5, as Gulf producers pushed exports back toward pre-war levels. Three maritime security sources counted at least 12 attacks on oil, liquefied natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas tankers that week, Reuters reported Oct. 7. The International Maritime Organization recorded nine incidents for the same week. Its previous high was eight, in the week of July 13.
The U.S. Navy-led Joint Maritime Information Center said in a note on Oct. 4 that attacks, attempted attacks and harassment by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards had persisted, including drone overflights and hailing by VHF radio. On Oct. 5, the Revolutionary Guards hailed a tanker entering the strait and ordered it to turn around or risk attack, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations center. On Oct. 6, an unknown projectile struck the Panama-flagged tanker On Peace in the strait and injured 12 crew members, India’s foreign ministry said.
The war began Feb. 28. Gulf exports excluding Iran recovered to more than 81% of pre-war levels in September, and Middle East crude exports topped pre-war levels on 14 days that month, according to the ship-tracking firm Kpler. Kpler estimates about 40% of the region’s oil exports now bypass the strait.
Sources
- Reuters, “Attacks on tankers in Hormuz hit highest of any week since start of Iran war, sources say” (Oct. 7, 2026), as published by gCaptain. Includes the Joint Maritime Information Center note and India’s statement on the On Peace.
- Al Jazeera, “Hormuz ship attacks surge: Are increased oil exports sustainable?” (Oct. 6, 2026). Cites UKMTO, Kpler and India’s foreign ministry.
- DeClassified Now, “Iran’s 7-Day Offer, Trump’s No, And What Each Side Wants” (Sept. 26, 2026)
Filed under: Joint Maritime Information Center / International Maritime Organization