Three cargo vessels have been hit by “unknown projectiles” in the Strait of Hormuz, maritime authorities say – the latest to be targeted in the vital oil corridor.
It came on the same day as 32 countries voted unanimously to the release of 400 million barrels of oil due to the “unprecedented” situation, the International Energy Agency (IEA) announced.
Pressure has intensified on the strait, one of the world’s most important shipping lanes, since Israel and the US attacked Iran late last month – causing traffic to drop and global energy prices soar.
Iran has said it would “not allow even a single litre of oil” heading for the US, Israel and their partners to pass through the strait.
Elsewhere, Israel has launched a fresh wave of strikes at Hezbollah targets in Lebanon on Wednesday night, in response to rockets fired at Israel. Earlier, Iran also fired further retaliatory attacks across the Gulf.
Speaking outside the White House, US President Donald Trump said “we’re not finished yet” in Iran when asked about what it will take for the war to end.
Among the three cargo vessels that were hit in the strait was a Thai-flagged vessel, which was 11 nautical miles north of Oman. A fire broke out on board and the Royal Thai Navy said the 23 crew members were rescued.
Iran has claimed responsibility, saying the ship’s crew ignored warnings.
The second vessel was a Japanese-flagged container ship that was struck 25 nautical miles off the coast of the United Arab Emirates, sustaining minor damage.
A third cargo vessel was hit about 50 nautical miles north-west of Dubai, according to UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).
Following the attacks, Tehran’s spokesman, Ebrahim Zolfaqari, said: “Get ready for the oil barrel to be at $200 because the oil price depends on the regional stability which you have destabalised”.
There have been 13 suspected Iranian attacks on vessels operating around the Gulf since the war began.
G7 leaders said in a statement on Wednesday that they were working to “explore the possibility of escorting ships when the right security conditions are in place”.
US Central Command said civilians should stay away from Iranian ports along the Strait of Hormuz because Tehran was using sites to conduct military operations.
The price of oil remains volatile, costing about $92 a barrel on Wednesday after it surged close to $120 on Monday before dropping that same day to $87.
Trump described these fluctuations on Wednesday as a “matter of war” and later said “oil prices are already coming back down”.
He has previously warned Iran of unprecedented military consequences if it mined the strait to stop Gulf oil passing through, saying the US military could escort ships.
The decision made by IEA members on Wednesday to release 400 million barrels of oil was to offset the “effective closure” of the shipping channel – through which about 20% of the world’s oil usually passes through the strait- the body’s executive director, Fatih Birol, said.
Elsewhere in the region, Iran said it unleashed another volley of retaliatory attacks across the Gulf on Wednesday, with targets including a major oilfield in Saudi Arabia and Dubai International Airport.
Officials said two drones had been intercepted near the airport, injuring four people.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) also said it launched its “most devastating and heaviest operation” including attacks to US bases in Qatar, Kuwait and Iraq.
Saudi Arabia reported that it had intercepted seven ballistic missiles, most heading to the Prince Sultan Air Base, while the country also stopped two drones heading for an oil field.
In Oman, several fuel storage tanks on the post of Salalah were struck by drones according to state media. British maritime security firm Ambrey says there was no damage to merchant vessels, the Reuters news agency reported.
The Israeli Defence Force said it struck a number of Hezbollah targets that were command centres and weapon stores in the Dahieh suburb of Beirut in Lebanon on Wednesday morning.
Lebanon’s health ministry said on Wednesday that seven people were killed and 23 injured following strikes on villages in the Bekaa Valley in eastern Lebanon.
Also on Wednesday, the son of Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian wrote on Telegram that the country’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei was “safe” after reports he had been injured.
A senior Israeli official told Reuters that its assessment was that Khamenei was lightly wounded during US and Israeli attacks, while Iran’s ambassador to Cyprus told the Guardianthe supreme leader was injured.
Khamenei has not issued any statements or appeared in public since his appointment on Sunday.
By BBC News
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