Iran blacklists three tankers in Hormuz

Iran said three Emirati-linked tankers hit in the Strait of Hormuz were already listed by its maritime authority as non-compliant vessels, adding a new layer to the mounting pressure over traffic through one of the world’s most sensitive shipping lanes. The ships were identified as Al Ruwais, Sinbad and Mersin Prosperity, with Iranian officials saying each had tried to pass through the strait several times over the past two months. Tehran said their names appeared on its latest blacklist for vessels whose transit conditions were deemed incompatible with its requirements.

The announcement followed reports of additional attacks in the same waterway, including a supertanker said to have caught fire after being struck while sailing near the coast of Oman. The reports raised fresh concern about the safety of commercial shipping in the corridor, where even isolated incidents can affect insurers, shipowners and energy markets. Iran did not claim responsibility for the strikes, but its statement linked the affected tankers to its own enforcement system for passage through the strait.

Iran’s maritime authority said vessels on the non-compliance list can face severe consequences on future voyages, including fines, detention or confiscation. It also warned that charterers who force ships into routes it considers unauthorized could themselves be blacklisted, with restrictions then extending to vessels connected to them. The authority further cautioned insurers, protection and indemnity clubs, and classification societies against serving ships it regards as non-compliant, signaling broader commercial pressure beyond the immediate transit rules.

The dispute underlines the continuing struggle over who has the right to regulate access through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital passage for oil and gas shipments from the Persian Gulf to global markets.