Iran’s Attacks Keep the Strait of Hormuz in a Lethal Stalemate

For months the U.S. military has sought to protect tankers from Iranian attacks as they carry Persian Gulf oil through the Strait of Hormuz.

But last week, a Saudi vessel trying to go through the strait was struck close to Oman’s coast, killing two of its crew members. Two other sailors died in attacks in August, making it the deadliest month in the strait for merchant seamen since March. At least 23 ships were hit in the waterway in July and August. On Saturday, the United States struck three Iranian oil tankers in retaliation for what it said were unprovoked attempts by Iran to attack two U.S. warships.

After more than six months of war, analysts said the strait remained in a lethal stalemate.

“The strait is neither fully closed nor fully opened,” said Eugene Gholz, an associate professor of political science at the University of Notre Dame and an expert on conflict in the waterway. “Iran can’t close it completely, and the U.S. can’t open it completely.”

The U.S. tanker protection effort, which involves intercepting Iranian drones and missiles before they hit ships, has helped get millions of barrels of oil out of the Persian Gulf each day and provided a measure of relief to oil markets.

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/06/business/iran-us-strait-of-hormuz-shipping.html