Gulf Oil Is Still Flowing Despite a Surge in Attacks on Ships

Iran is hitting a lot more tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, but ship operators are still going through the waterway, transporting oil in significant volumes.

So far this month, 26 vessels have been struck, according to data from organizations that track maritime incidents, making it the most dangerous period for shipping during the war with Iran. On Wednesday, a 730-foot container ship sank after a projectile hit it.

Under U.S. military protection, tankers had been returning to the strait in greater numbers. That helped oil exports from the Middle East to get close to their prewar levels last month.

But while Iran’s escalated attacks on tankers appear aimed at reversing the surge, data from firms that track oil shipments suggest that the recent recovery in exports through the strait has held up.

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/15/business/hormuz-oil-tanker-attacks.html