The crisis in the Strait of Hormuz intensified on February 28, 2026, when the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran, during which Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed. Following this, Iran began attacking US bases in the Middle East. Since then, tensions around the Strait of Hormuz have escalated, with Iran attempting to assert full control over the route to increase international pressure on the United States.
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By March 21, ships from Japan were still passing through the Strait of Hormuz, but Iran imposed restrictions on US and Israeli vessels, which further increased tensions between Iran and the US–Israel bloc. Meanwhile, 22 countries condemned Iran’s “de facto” blockade and pledged to ensure safe passage. At the same time, discussions are underway regarding a possible US plan to take control of Kharg Island.
Timeline of Attacks:
8 ships were affected. The first attack targeted the Palau-flagged MT Skylight, about 5 nautical miles north of Khasab, Oman, in a drone strike. The vessel had a total crew of 20, including 15 Indians and 5 Iranians. No fatalities were reported, but 4 people were injured.
The Malta-flagged Safeen Prestige (1,740 TEU, operated by AD Ports) was attacked by a missile about 2 nautical miles north of Salib, Oman. The strike caused a fire in the engine room, but all crew members were safely evacuated and no casualties were reported.
Photo: @ reuters
The tanker Athens Nova was hit by two drone attacks by Iran, which caused a fire on the ship. Around this time, traffic through the Strait of Hormuz dropped sharply by about 94%, and more than 200 ships were left stranded in the region.
Iran once again carried out attacks on three ships, including a Malta-flagged tanker, as part of its efforts to assert control over the entire Strait of Hormuz region. These attacks were aimed at increasing pressure and demonstrating dominance over this strategic maritime route.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
By this period, Iran had carried out attacks on a total of 24 ships. More than 20 people were injured, and over 5 ships were abandoned or destroyed. The risk to Indian crew members also increased significantly. Meanwhile, the IRGC warned that it could target any ship in the region, leading to a sharp decline of about 95% in traffic through this route.
