One-third of vessels blacklisted by Iran already attacked around Hormuz

One-third of the vessels Iran has threatened to confiscate for breaching Strait of Hormuz transit rules have already been attacked during the Middle East war, an AFP data analysis has found. Since the conflict erupted in late February, Tehran has sought to impose its own shipping corridor to control traffic through the strategic chokepoint, a waterway previously governed by international maritime law.

How many vessels has Iran blacklisted in the Strait of Hormuz?

Iran has blacklisted 45 vessels for breaching its rules in the Strait of Hormuz, and at least 14 of them have already been attacked in or around the strait. The attacks were confirmed by the International Maritime Organization and classified as such by Britain's maritime security agency UKMTO, which does not name those responsible. Almost all took place off Oman's coast, along a route backed by the United States and banned by Iran.

Why did Iran blacklist these vessels?

The Persian Gulf Strait Authority, created by Iran in May to oversee the strait, published the list of 45 vessels on its X account on Sunday. It said the vessels face future restrictions, including fines, seizures or confiscations, during their next passage through the waterway. The authority said the measures were a response to previous violations of Iranian rules, and warned that other vessels could be added if they conduct transfers with those already named.

Which companies own the blacklisted vessels?

The vast majority of the vessels on Iran's list, 39 in total, are commodity carriers that have transited the strait at least once since early March, according to an AFP analysis of data from maritime tracking platform Kpler. Some have crossed the strait as many as 12 times, including the tanker Al Bahyah, one of whose crew members was killed in an incident in July. At least one-third of the vessels on Iran's list are owned by Emirati companies, Kpler data shows.

Of the more than 170 voyages made by these commodity carriers over the same period, 75 had a port in the United Arab Emirates as their next destination. Around 70 had made their last loading stop there before entering the strait.