Threat to oil tankers in Middle East worst since start of Iran war, analysts say

The threat to ships carrying oil in the Middle East is at its worst since the Iran war started, experts have said, after a spate of attacks on another key route in the region. The warning comes after a number of attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, an alternative waterway that some tankers had been using since Iran blocked the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has denied Donald Trump's claim that it was in talks with the US over reopening the strait, but said it was speaking to Oman about securing the shipping lane. "In terms of threat to the trade of crude, we're at the worst period that we've been in since this since this crisis began," said Matthew Wright, an analyst at ship-tracking firm Kpler. The number of ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz was just eight on Sunday and 11 on Saturday, compared with more than 100 per day before the war began, according to Kpler. Before the conflict, about 20% of the world's oil and gas passed through the strait.

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Scoop News DeskMiddle East · Published Monday, August 3, 2026 at 3:57 PM UTCUpdated Monday, August 3, 2026 at 4:10 PM UTC

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Peter Sand, chief analyst at Xeneta, another ship-tracking company, said the fighting had taken the shipping industry "back to to square one" and that things were in "a terrible state, regardless of which shipping type you're you're looking at". "The alternatives for getting cargo, whether that's hydrocarbons or container shipping, are really not great… it is really still troubling times with no clarity and no change of fortunes within sight." Saudi Arabia's dilemma as it tries to stay out of US-Iran war Trump cancels Iran strikes subject to deal being made 'rapidly' Why limited war with the US may suit Iran better than peace Watch our pick of standout clips from across the BBC Russia says seven killed and 40 injured by Ukrainian drone hitting busy beach FA set to withdraw support for Fifa president Infantino Iran says it is in talks with Oman but not the US after Trump says negotiations to resume Woman has pioneering womb surgery to fix 'miracle' baby with intestines outside its body Starting uni?