Projectile Hits Tanker in Strait of Hormuz as Iran Claims Illegal Crossing
Updated
Updated · CBS New York · Sep 18
Projectile Hits Tanker in Strait of Hormuz as Iran Claims Illegal Crossing
3 articles · Updated · CBS New York · Sep 18
Summary
A tanker was struck by an unknown projectile in the Strait of Hormuz early Friday, causing a fire that was later extinguished; the crew was reported safe.
Iran's Revolutionary Guard said it had hit a Togo-flagged ship attempting an "illegal crossing," though it was not clear whether Tehran was referring to the same vessel cited by the U.K. maritime agency.
UKMTO also disclosed Friday that another tanker had been hit by an unknown projectile on Sept. 16 while leaving the strait, pointing to repeated attacks on commercial shipping in the waterway.
The incident adds to pressure around the six-month-old war, with President Trump saying he faces a "big decision" on whether to launch a major assault on Iran.
With Hormuz traffic paralyzed and insurance skyrocketing, will the global energy market collapse before military intervention secures the strait?
Could Iran's aggressive blockade of commercial shipping inadvertently accelerate the world's permanent shift away from Middle Eastern oil dependency?
As US airstrikes intensify and Trump weighs a major assault, what hidden trigger could transform this maritime standoff into a regional war?
The 2026 Tanker Attacks and Strait of Hormuz Blockade: Economic, Environmental, and Geopolitical Fallout
Overview
In 2026, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran after the US-Israel war triggered a severe maritime crisis. The IRGCN attacked the oil tanker Trend, causing a fire and halting the vessel, while near-simultaneous strikes targeted other supertankers. Iran enforced its control with a blacklist of vessels, leading to a dramatic drop in shipping traffic and soaring oil prices. Massive oil spills from military strikes contaminated the Gulf, threatening desalination plants and water supplies for millions. The crisis disrupted global energy and food supply chains, stranded crews at sea, and forced countries to seek alternative trade routes and emergency diplomatic solutions.