---
title: Iran sinks two cargo vessels in Strait of Hormuz enforcement action
description: Iran's Revolutionary Guard sank two cargo ships in the Strait of Hormuz for unauthorized routing, while Houthi attacks on Saudi energy infrastructure and airports escalated through the week.
image: https://www.spimarine.com/hubfs/Strait_of_Hormuz_and_Musandam_Peninsula.jpg
---

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# Iran sinks two cargo vessels in Strait of Hormuz enforcement action

[Market Intelligence](https://www.spimarine.com/the-current/tag/market-intelligence)

 Oct 16, 2026  6 min read [Share on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https://www.spimarine.com/the-current/iran-watch)

Iran sinks two cargo vessels in Strait of Hormuz enforcement action

1:06

---

**In this update**

[In progress](https://www.spimarine.com/the-current/iran-watch#current-week)

[Previous weeks](https://www.spimarine.com/the-current/iran-watch#previous-weeks)

Updated 8:26 AM CT

Strait of Hormuz

### Two cargo sinkings

Iran's Revolutionary Guard sank two cargo vessels on Oct 14 for what it described as unauthorized routing through the chokepoint, one hit by projectile and one by sea mine.

Saudi energy infrastructure

### Houthi attacks escalate

Houthi attacks on Saudi airports and oil facilities prompted France to begin deploying military assets to help protect the kingdom's energy infrastructure, while Saudi Arabia described the strikes as full-fledged war crimes.

Oil market

### Brent settles above $106

Brent settled at $106.06 a barrel and WTI at $95.09 on Oct 14 amid Houthi attacks in Saudi Arabia and continued tensions over Strait of Hormuz shipping.

SPI Marine - Iran sinks two cargo vessels in Strait of Hormuz enforcement action

## This week: October 12-16

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps sank two cargo vessels in the Strait of Hormuz on Oct 14, accusing both ships of transiting an unauthorized route through the chokepoint. One vessel went down after being hit by a projectile, while the other sank after striking a sea mine. On Oct 16, Iran's navy reported a tanker fire in the Sea of Oman, describing the vessel as "violating," though no further details on the nature of the violation or the fire's cause were provided.

Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia intensified through the week, targeting airports and energy infrastructure. Saudi Arabia extended the suspension of operations at Riyadh's King Khalid International airport until Saturday following the attacks, while debris from intercepted missiles in the capital injured four people and damaged 15 homes. An attack on a Saudi Aramco building in Dhahran caused a small fire and prompted evacuations. Oil prices rose on Oct 14, with Brent settling at $106.06 a barrel and WTI at $95.09, amid the Saudi attacks and continued tensions over Strait of Hormuz shipping.

The US Treasury announced measures on Oct 15 targeting 16 individuals and 10 entities, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent saying Washington will continue imposing sanctions until Iran's coffers are empty. Iran's acting oil minister responded on Oct 16, saying Iran will take precise, appropriate retaliatory measures at the right time to counter threats to its energy facilities.

This week's updates

- Oct 12 Saudi Arabia extended the suspension of operations at Riyadh's King Khalid International airport until Saturday after a series of deadly Houthi attacks, while the kingdom launched an investigation into possible air defence system failures.
- Oct 13 An attack on a Saudi Aramco building in Dhahran caused a small fire and prompted evacuations, while debris from intercepted Houthi missiles in Riyadh injured four people and damaged 15 homes.
- FLASHOct 14 Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps sank two cargo vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, accusing both of transiting an unauthorized route; one ship was hit by a projectile, the other struck a sea mine.
- Oct 14 Oil prices rose, with Brent settling at $106.06 a barrel and WTI at $95.09, amid Houthi attacks in Saudi Arabia and continued tensions over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
- Oct 15 US Treasury announced measures targeting 16 individuals and 10 entities, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent saying Washington will continue imposing sanctions until Iran's coffers are empty.
- Oct 16 Iran's acting oil minister said Iran will take precise, appropriate retaliatory measures at the right time to counter threats to its energy facilities, while Iran's navy reported a tanker fire in the Sea of Oman involving a vessel described as violating.

Still developing

Charterers and owners moving chemical or product cargoes through the Strait of Hormuz should expect war risk premiums to firm in the immediate term, with underwriters likely to reassess exposure following the two sinkings. The Revolutionary Guard's stated rationale of unauthorized routing introduces uncertainty around what constitutes compliant transit, which may prompt some owners to seek clarification from Iranian authorities or avoid the chokepoint altogether until routing protocols are clearer. Vessels already fixed for Gulf load or discharge should anticipate possible delays if owners elect to wait for further guidance, and any tonnage that does transit should budget for higher insurance costs and the possibility of additional naval scrutiny.

The tanker fire in the Sea of Oman adds a second potential flashpoint for product and chemical flows exiting the Gulf via the alternative Fujairah route. If Iran's enforcement actions extend beyond the Strait of Hormuz itself, expect tighter tonnage availability for Gulf exports and upward pressure on freight rates as some owners price in elevated risk or remove vessels from the trade altogether.

SPI Marine - Iran sinks two cargo vessels in Strait of Hormuz enforcement action

## Previous 5 weeks: quick reference

October 5-11

Week 41

- **Oct 11, 2026:** The IRGC said three tankers struck naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz, and warned that ships switching off navigation systems would be treated as hostile.
- **Oct 11, 2026:** A drone attack on the Petro Dolphin off Oman left two Indian sailors missing.
- **Oct 10, 2026:** A tanker reported being hit by an unknown projectile in the Strait of Hormuz, causing a fire on board, and multiple ship captains near Ras al-Khaimah were directed via VHF to move from their anchorages.
- **Oct 10, 2026:** An attack on King Khalid international airport in Riyadh killed at least 12 people and injured 309 others, and a projectile fell near King Fahd international airport in Dammam.
- **Oct 9, 2026:** The IRGC said it struck a giant LPG carrier named NV Sunshine attempting to pass through an illegal route south of the Strait of Hormuz.
- **Oct 8, 2026:** US Treasury imposed sanctions on 27 companies, six individuals and 22 vessels as part of efforts to target enablers of Iranian oil sales, while oil prices rose about 4 percent amid renewed concerns over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

September 28-October 4

Week 40

- **Oct 3, 2026:** An oil tanker exploded in the Strait of Hormuz, Iran's state broadcaster IRIB reported.
- **Oct 1, 2026:** Iran's Persian Gulf Strait Authority said several tankers were attacked in the Strait of Hormuz in recent days, including three owned or chartered by the UAE.
- **Oct 2, 2026:** G7 countries agreed to release up to 100 million barrels of diesel and crude to ease price pressures caused by the US war on Iran, and crude oil prices eased following the announcement.
- **Oct 3, 2026:** Iraq's Oil Tanker Company transported 2 million barrels of Iraqi crude on board a VLCC through the Strait of Hormuz.
- **Sep 30, 2026:** Iran said it received a US response to Tehran's offer to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, with senior leaders reviewing Washington's counterproposal.
- **Sep 29, 2026:** The US added 10 individuals and companies to its sanctions list over alleged ties to the Iranian military, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent saying economic measures will continue.

September 21-27

Week 39

- **Sep 26, 2026:** US President Donald Trump rejected Iran's proposal of a seven-day roadmap to end the war, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and resume nuclear talks.
- **Sep 27, 2026:** Trump said the US transported a record amount of oil from the Strait of Hormuz overnight and told US media he expects more talks with Iran this week.
- **Sep 25, 2026:** Iran's Foreign Minister Araghchi said a seven-day timeline for reopening the Strait of Hormuz could begin as soon as the following day if the US accepts Iran's conditions.
- **Sep 23, 2026:** An Indian crew member was killed after a vessel was attacked off the coast of Oman.
- **Sep 24, 2026:** French President Emmanuel Macron said France will send troops and defence systems to Saudi Arabia to help protect the Red Sea port city of Yanbu, which is key for energy transport.
- **Sep 22, 2026:** Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to restate Iran's conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iranian state media.

September 14-20

Week 38

- **Sep 20, 2026:** Iran's Parliament Speaker says the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the US fulfils commitments under the June peace deal.
- **Sep 18, 2026:** US President Donald Trump extends US sanctions on Iran by five years, replacing their 2026 expiry date with 2031.
- **Sep 15, 2026:** US Central Command says it has redirected 103 commercial vessels as part of Washington's blockade on Iranian maritime trade through the Strait of Hormuz.
- **Sep 17, 2026:** The IRGC says it struck a Togo-flagged tanker that attempted an illegal passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
- **Sep 15, 2026:** Some physical oil cargoes in Europe climb above $130 a barrel after an attack shuts Saudi Arabia's East-West pipeline and disrupts exports from Yanbu.
- **Sep 19, 2026:** Iran's security chief says Tehran's conditions for ending the war include an end to the war on all fronts, the unfreezing of Iranian funds and an end to the US military blockade of Iranian ports.

September 7-13

Week 37

- **Sep 11, 2026:** Saudi Arabia suspended its East-West oil pipeline after a drone attack launched from Iraq, cutting off the kingdom's only crude export route that bypasses the Strait of Hormuz.
- **Sep 11, 2026:** Iran said it will meet representatives from Iraq and Gulf states in Oman on Monday to discuss safe shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz and shared regional security.
- **Sep 13, 2026:** The planned meeting in Oman between Gulf countries and Iran to discuss possible agreements on the Strait of Hormuz was postponed.
- **Sep 11, 2026:** The Houthis seized full control of Yemen's Red Sea coast, including the port of Mocha, consolidating their control over the coastline and raising concern over potential leverage on the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.
- **Sep 11, 2026:** US Central Command said it has redirected 99 commercial vessels as part of Washington's blockade of Iran, up from 96 on September 10.
- **Sep 8, 2026:** US Central Command said it destroyed five Iranian crude oil carriers after Iran's Revolutionary Guard targeted a US Navy warship with ballistic missiles twice over the past two days.

*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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