US-Iran escalation shatters fragile Hormuz recovery after missile strike on tankers
- Sinokor and Adnoc VLCCs struck with cruise missiles in Omani waters near Hormuz, killing one seafarer and marking the most serious attack on commercial shipping since the June ceasefire
- The US launched a third night of strikes on Iran and reinstated a maritime blockade, while Tehran suspended transit permissions through the strait, deepening uncertainty for shipowners
- Security operators raised the threat level to ‘critical’ as fears of renewed Houthi attacks and escalating US-Iran confrontation pushed oil prices to a four-week high
Missile strikes on two tankers, a renewed US blockade of Iran and the suspension of Hormuz transit permissions have shattered a fragile post-ceasefire recovery, returning the world’s most important oil chokepoint to a critical security footing
