Iran Says Latest Tanker Attack Highlights Its Control Over Strait of Hormuz

Iran said an oil tanker traveling along a US-designated route in the Strait of Hormuz was targeted overnight despite reportedly switching off its Automatic Identification System (AIS) to avoid detection. It described the vessel as the third oil tanker to be struck in regional waters within the past 24 hours.

According to the statement, the incident demonstrates that disabling AIS cannot prevent attacks and reflects what Tehran called violations of Iran’s sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian officials argued that the attacks underscore the strategic importance of the waterway amid heightened regional tensions.

Iran further claimed that current maritime conditions have made the northern shipping corridor, coordinated by Tehran, the safest route for commercial traffic. It said most vessels have recently chosen the Iran-designated passage, while ships using the southern route have increasingly come under attack, which it said demonstrates Iran’s control over the strategic waterway.