Attacks on multiple commercial vessels in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz have prompted Iraq to close its oil terminals, escalating tensions in a critical global energy corridor. A Japanese container ship owned by Mitsui and two bulk carriers were among the vessels hit, according to ship tracking data. One of the bulk carriers, the Mayuree Naree from Thailand, was struck near the Strait of Hormuz, while others were attacked in the Persian Gulf.

Iran appeared to claim responsibility for at least one of the হামbers, with a senior naval commander stating that the vessel had ignored warnings and that any ship intending to pass must obtain permission from Iran. The incidents follow United States strikes on Iranian mine-laying vessels near the strait, intensifying hostilities in the region.

The disruptions have significant global consequences, as roughly a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas typically passes through the Strait of Hormuz. Restrictions on shipping have driven up oil and gasoline prices and forced some countries to tap emergency reserves. While some vessels continue to transit the waterway, many have turned off tracking devices, making the full scale of maritime traffic and risk difficult to assess.