Two cargo ships sink near Strait of Hormuz as reported attacks on shipping rise

Two commercial ships have sunk near the Strait of Hormuz, according to The Guardian and the Wall Street Journal. The Guardian describes them as container ships. The Wall Street Journal calls them cargo ships.

Both outlets attribute a rise in attacks on shipping in the Hormuz area to Iran. Both also report that the US military has been guiding vessels through the strait. The Guardian says it uses a route nearer Oman's coast. The Wall Street Journal says it is moving more oil through the strait.

According to The Guardian, the Singapore-flagged container ship GFS Pride sank on Wednesday, 14 October, after an attack the previous day. International Maritime Organization data cited by The Guardian says the Antigua and Barbuda-flagged Cape Dao sank close to the strait hours later. The same data says the Cape Dao had been hit by a projectile on 23 September. The reports do not describe the fate of either crew.

According to The Guardian, UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported at least five incidents, including drone strikes, in the 48 hours before Wednesday. UKMTO monitoring cited by the paper recorded six vessels attacked on Sunday alone. A Financial Times analysis cited by The Guardian found 24 ships were hit in the two weeks to 11 October. The Guardian calls this the sharpest increase in Iranian attacks on shipping since the US-Israel war with Iran began.

US fuel prices have risen by almost 70% since the war began, according to The Guardian. The paper reports that the Trump administration has blamed Ukraine's attacks on Russian refineries for higher prices. US midterm elections are scheduled for 3 November.

What is disputed

Iranian state television broadcast a statement from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). It said a cargo ship carrying 2,500 containers hit a naval mine while on an "illegal and dangerous route" without authorisation. The Guardian says this apparently refers to the GFS Pride. UKMTO suggested both ships were hit by unidentified projectiles, according to The Guardian. The reports do not identify who fired them.

Accounts of oil flows also differ. The Guardian says the attacks appear to have caused a dramatic drop-off in oil shipments. The Wall Street Journal's summary says more oil is being shepherded through. Vocemundi reviewed only the WSJ headline and summary. It is unclear whether the two accounts measure the same thing.

What each side says

Two unnamed Iranian officials said Iran has adopted new tactics against vessels it considers in violation of its restrictions, according to The Guardian. They said one goal is to influence the US vote. The Guardian, citing Reuters, quoted one official: "The aim is to frustrate efforts by the United States and its allies to bring down global oil prices."

An unnamed US military official said US forces destroyed a dhow last week after finding Iranian spotters aboard calling in targets, according to The Guardian. The official said the occupants were ordered off first and there were no casualties. The reports do not independently verify either account.

The Guardian quoted an unnamed maritime security source: "There is a tempo increase in strikes, which looks deliberate,"

Analysis

The sinkings raise questions about the safety of commercial traffic through one of the world's main energy routes. Much depends on facts the reports do not settle: what sank the GFS Pride, who fired the projectiles UKMTO described, and whether oil flows are falling or rising. If attacks continue at the reported pace, shipping costs and fuel prices could face further pressure, with possible political effects before the 3 November US vote. Alternatively, US escort operations could stabilise traffic. Claims by Iranian and US officials about strategy and incidents remain unverified, and independent data would help clarify which scenario is unfolding.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.