Tanker struck near Khasab, mines reported in Strait of Hormuz

Sep 4, 2026 7 min read Share on LinkedIn
Tanker struck near Khasab, mines reported in Strait of Hormuz
1:06


Updated Friday, September 4 - 8:56 AM CT

Strait of Hormuz

Tanker struck, mines reported

A tanker was struck by three projectiles near Khasab on Sep 1, and Iran reported two oil tankers disabled by sea mines while transiting the Strait on Sep 2, raising war risk exposure for vessels in the chokepoint.

Naval blockade

87 vessels redirected

US Central Command reported on Sep 3 that it has redirected 87 vessels in the Strait of Hormuz amid the naval blockade of Iran, indicating continued transit delays and routing decisions for tanker operators.

Regional escalation

Missile, drone strikes widen

Iran launched ballistic missiles at bases in Jordan on Aug 30, and Saudi Arabia accused Iran of attacking the supertanker Sidr on Sep 2, killing two sailors, as the conflict spreads beyond the immediate Gulf theater.

This week: August 30-September 4

The Strait of Hormuz has seen multiple tanker incidents this week, with one vessel struck by projectiles near Khasab on Sep 1 and Iran reporting two oil tankers disabled by sea mines on Sep 2. Saudi Arabia accused Iran of attacking the supertanker Sidr north of Oman's Musandam Peninsula on Sep 2, killing two sailors. US Central Command reported on Sep 3 that it has redirected 87 vessels in the Strait amid the naval blockade of Iran.

The US attacked rocket launchers on Larak Island in the Strait on Aug 30, prompting Iran's Revolutionary Guard to launch ballistic missiles at bases in Jordan hosting US forces. Iran intercepted a US drone in the eastern Strait on Aug 31, while US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the goal of sanctions on Iran is to create conditions for Tehran to come to the table for negotiations.

Iran's vice president warned on Sep 4 that the country's response to US attacks will be asymmetrical and multi-layered, while South Korea said it is reviewing practical options, including military measures, for supporting freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

This week's updates

  • Aug 30 The US attacked rocket launchers on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting Iran's Revolutionary Guard to launch ballistic missiles at bases in Jordan hosting US forces.
  • Aug 31 Iran intercepted a US drone in the eastern Strait of Hormuz, while US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the goal of sanctions on Iran is to create conditions for Tehran to come to the table for negotiations.
  • FLASHSep 1 A tanker was struck by three projectiles near Khasab, Oman, while exiting the Strait of Hormuz, according to UK Maritime Trade Operations.
  • FLASHSep 2 Saudi Arabia accused Iran of attacking the supertanker Sidr with projectiles north of Oman's Musandam Peninsula, killing two sailors, while Iran's Revolutionary Guard said two oil tankers hit sea mines and were disabled while attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz.
  • Sep 3 US Central Command said it has redirected 87 vessels in the Strait of Hormuz amid the naval blockade of Iran, while Iran's Minister of Petroleum said the country's oil industry continues to circumvent the blockade.
  • Sep 4 Iran's vice president warned the country's response to US attacks will be asymmetrical and multi-layered, while South Korea said it is reviewing practical options, including military measures, for supporting freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
Still developing

The tanker strike near Khasab and the mine incidents reported by Iran indicate active weapons deployment in the immediate transit zone. Charterers and owners should expect war risk premiums to firm in the near term, particularly for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz without naval escort or coordination with US Central Command. The 87-vessel redirection count suggests that routing decisions are being made on a case-by-case basis, and owners should anticipate delays for vessels awaiting clearance or rerouting instructions.

The attack on the Saudi-owned supertanker Sidr, with two crew fatalities, may prompt underwriters to reassess hull and crew coverage for vessels calling at Gulf load ports or transiting the Strait. Owners should confirm with their underwriters whether current policies cover mine and projectile exposure in the Strait, and whether additional premiums or exclusions will apply to upcoming fixtures.

Previous 5 weeks: quick reference

August 23-28
Week 35
  • Aug 23, 2026: Iran's Persian Gulf Strait Authority said vessels repeatedly violating its passage rules through the Strait of Hormuz will face restrictions on future trips.
  • Aug 23, 2026: Iran's security chief warned that if Trump's economic war continues, Tehran will halt all oil exports from the Gulf and treat any country's support for US sanctions as an act of war.
  • Aug 24, 2026: The US announced new sanctions on Tehran that aim to sever every economic lifeline that sustains Iran, in a round that could target Iran's trade partners including China.
  • Aug 25, 2026: Iran's deputy foreign minister said the Strait of Hormuz remains closed and that an agreement on a temporary route with Oman does not mean it has reopened.
  • Aug 27, 2026: Qatar's Foreign Ministry said Qatar and Iran have discussed an agreement to implement a joint project to clear mines from the Strait of Hormuz.
  • Aug 28, 2026: The IRGC said it has retained decisive control over the Strait of Hormuz, while a White House spokesperson said the strait is de-mined and safe for transit.
August 16-22
Week 34
  • Aug 17, 2026: US President Donald Trump said the United States is not seeking an extension of the memorandum of understanding with Iran, which expired on Monday, and that Tehran should put up the white flag of surrender.
  • Aug 17, 2026: Oman is intensifying efforts to contain an oil spill from the grounded vessel Caroline Bezengi near al-Qibliyyah Island, which has been leaking since a suspected explosion on June 8 and now covers more than 2,000 sq km.
  • Aug 18, 2026: The UAE announced that all trade, commercial exchange and financial transactions with Iran have been halted until further notice, after accusing Iran of launching two ballistic missiles at the Gulf country targeting maritime traffic.
  • Aug 19, 2026: US President Donald Trump announced a crushing economic operation against Iran over its failure to reach a deal with Washington, warning other nations of severe financial consequences if they provide Tehran a lifeline.
  • Aug 19, 2026: An Iranian lawmaker said a Strait of Hormuz plan being discussed with Oman would place the waterway under the control of Iran's armed forces.
  • Aug 22, 2026: Iran granted Iraq permission to send a number of its oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iran's IRNA news agency.
August 9-15
Week 33
  • Aug 12, 2026: The US military says it has redirected 59 commercial vessels, disabled three and boarded two since reinstating its naval blockade on Iran.
  • Aug 12, 2026: The International Energy Agency forecasts that global oil supply will fall by 4.3 million barrels per day this year amid disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb.
  • Aug 13, 2026: The UAE said two of its vessels were attacked in the Strait of Hormuz and called on Iran to halt these unprovoked attacks.
  • Aug 13, 2026: US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth claims the US can maintain its blockade on Iran indefinitely, while US Vice President JD Vance says the main goal is ensuring Gulf countries continue to send oil and gas to the world economy for energy price stability.
  • Aug 14, 2026: Iran's Foreign Minister Araghchi said talks with Oman over an approved route through the Strait of Hormuz may conclude soon, but reiterated this issue was separate from the total opening of the waterway and an end to the war.
  • Aug 15, 2026: Iran reiterated it has reached an agreement with Oman on a shipping route map for the Strait of Hormuz after weeks of technical negotiations, but the finer points of a deal were still being finalised.
August 2-8
Week 32
  • Aug 2, 2026: US President Trump said negotiations with Iran are set to begin August 3 and a deal is likely on the Strait of Hormuz and denuclearisation, while Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi said negotiations between Oman and Iran on the strait are in their final stages.
  • Aug 3, 2026: US Central Command said it has redirected 44 commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz since reimposing the blockade mid-July.
  • Aug 4, 2026: US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz could be reached today or tomorrow, while oil prices fell sharply on hopes of a deal, with Brent crude falling below $80 a barrel.
  • Aug 7, 2026: US Central Command said it has redirected 51 commercial vessels, disabled two and boarded two others since reinstating its naval blockade of Iran on July 14.
  • Aug 7, 2026: Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Pakistan signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, committing each country to treat an attack on one as an attack on all.
  • Aug 8, 2026: US Central Command said it has redirected 53 commercial vessels as part of its naval blockade on Iran, while Iran's Supreme National Security Council secretary said the US must lift sanctions and compensate Iran for war damages as demands for reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
July 26-August 1
Week 31
  • Jul 26, 2026: Iran's Foreign Ministry says there has been progress in talks with Oman on managing shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, while an oil tanker exploded after hitting a naval mine in the strait.
  • Jul 26, 2026: After nearly two weeks of bombings, two consecutive nights passed with no US attacks on Iran, and Tehran halted retaliatory attacks in the region.
  • Jul 28, 2026: Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched ballistic missiles at US bases in the region in what the US military called a surprise attack, though all missiles were intercepted.
  • Jul 28, 2026: The US military redirected 18 commercial vessels as part of its renewed blockade of Iranian ports, a figure that rose to 20 vessels by July 29.
  • Jul 29, 2026: A drone hit a US-owned gas storage tanker at Egypt's Mediterranean port of Damietta, causing a fire on a tugboat and storage ship with no casualties reported.
  • Jul 30, 2026: Iran's IRGC targeted US bases in Kuwait and Jordan after US forces bombed locations on Qeshm Island, Kish Island, Bushehr, Khuzestan and Zanjan province, killing civilians and three IRGC members.

This overview is compiled from public reporting and official statements, including CENTCOM, the US Treasury, the IRGC, and Al Jazeera's coverage. It is provided for general market awareness and is not a substitute for official guidance, sanctions counsel, or vessel-specific risk assessment. SPI Marine does not guarantee its completeness or accuracy. Details from the most recent 1-2 days may be headline-level only, pending fuller confirmation. 

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