Iran Says 11 Tankers Disabled in 10 Days as Attacks Escalate in Hormuz
Key Facts
Iranian television’s correspondent said on November 9 that 11 tankers had been disabled over the previous 10 days, a new tally reflecting rising maritime tensions in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz. Reuters quoted the correspondent as saying the tankers had been "disabled" during that period, without providing further details about the vessels or the locations of the incidents. The announcement came as Reuters said tanker attacks in the Gulf and the strait surged sharply in October and remained at their highest pace since the start of the war. The agency based its description on figures from international maritime agencies. Tehran’s remarks about the tankers thus come amid a broader wave of maritime incidents as the confrontation between Iran and the United States continues.
In a separate incident on Saturday evening, Iran’s military said two tankers struck mines in the Hormuz area and caught fire. The military did not identify the tankers’ flags or destinations, according to the Associated Press. Iran’s account coincided with an announcement by U.S. Central Command that it had disabled a commercial vessel flying the flag of Saint Kitts. The command said the vessel ignored several warnings and tried to leave the area after visiting an Iranian port. The incidents underscore the range of events and competing statements concerning vessels in the area, without providing shared details on the identities of all the ships or the circumstances of each incident.
More than 130 ships a day transited the waterway before the war broke out in February 2026, according to figures cited by Reuters via Gulf Times. The agency noted that vessels may pass undetected if they switch off their tracking devices, limiting the accuracy of observed shipping traffic. The prewar level provides context for the strait’s role in vessel traffic, but dates from before the conflict. This comparison alone does not establish current transit levels or measure daily changes. Tanker attacks surged in October and then continued at their highest pace since the start of the war, Reuters said, citing data from international maritime agencies.
On the diplomatic front, senior U.S. and Gulf officials said the chances of an imminent deal to end the war appeared limited. Iran’s proposal included ending the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports, lifting some sanctions and halting the bombing, in exchange for Tehran ending its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Talks on the nuclear program and other sanctions were to follow. But Reuters reported that the United States had repeatedly rejected the proposal. The officials’ assessment of the prospects for a deal indicates that these terms have not yet led to an imminent breakthrough, while maritime security remains part of the negotiations between the two sides.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in an interview with local media on Saturday that Washington must meet Iran’s conditions concerning the strait for shipping to resume. The statement links the resumption of navigation to Tehran’s demands, while the United States has said it may continue its naval blockade of Iran indefinitely. U.S. President Donald Trump is due to meet Qatar’s prime minister, who is mediating in the war, according to a Reuters report published on November 9. Senior U.S. and Gulf officials, meanwhile, questioned the likelihood of a near-term deal. Talks and the terms for reopening the strait remain central to the crisis, as reports of disabled tankers and maritime incidents continue.
On Friday, November 6, the United States announced new, limited strikes inside Iran. Trump said the U.S. military had targeted an Iranian air-defense system and described the military action as limited, according to the Associated Press. The statement came after weeks in which Trump said he was considering another wave of strikes after the U.S. midterm elections held on November 3. In another maritime incident, U.S. Central Command said the vessel flying the flag of Saint Kitts had tried to leave the area after visiting an Iranian port and that it disabled the vessel after it ignored warnings. The statements point to continued military and maritime activity alongside diplomatic efforts, while the agency’s report provided no further details about the vessel or its destination.