The US Navy has reportedly refused nearly daily requests from the shipping industry for military escorts through the Strait of Hormuz, citing high risk of attacks. This comes despite President Donald Trump‘s repeated assurances that the strait is “in great shape” and that Iranian threats have been largely neutralized.
On Wednesday morning alone, three cargo ships were struck with projectiles, Al Jazeera reports. The situation has grown increasingly dangerous since the US and Israel began bombing Iran 11 days ago. Iran, facing severe economic pressure from these bombings, is leveraging its proximity to the strait, through which 20% of the world’s oil flows.
Iranian explosive-laden boats appear to have attacked two fuel tankers in Iraqi waters this week – the Marshall Islands-flagged Safesea Vishnu and the Zefyros, setting them ablaze and killing one crew member. Iraqi port officials confirmed the late-night attacks occurred after the ships had loaded fuel cargoes. Oil port operations have completely stopped following these attacks.
Trump’s claims of control over the strait do not match what is actually happening on the water
President Trump, speaking from Joint Base Andrews, painted a very different picture of the situation. When asked about potential intervention in oil futures markets to stabilize spiking prices, he dismissed concerns about the strait.
“Well, we’re gonna be in very good shape,” Trump said, adding, “They are pretty much at the end of the line. They’ve got no Navy, they’ve got no air force, they’ve got no anti-air traffic anything. They have no systems of control. We’re just riding free-range over that country.”
He then added, “The straits are in great shape. We’ve knocked out all of their boats. They have some missiles, but not very many. I think we’re in very good, we’re in very good shape.” Polls suggest that Americans think Trump has failed on the Iran war, along with other key issues like immigration and prices.
The reality on the water tells a different story. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) has recorded 22 incidents in the strait since attacks on Iran began on February 28. Early Thursday, UKMTO reported an unidentified projectile struck a container ship north of Jebel Ali, causing a small fire, though all crew were reported safe.
On Wednesday, the Thai-flagged Mayuree Naree dry bulk vessel was hit by “two projectiles of unknown origin,” causing a fire and damaging the engine room. Its operator, Precious Shipping, reported three crew members are missing and believed trapped. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility, stating the ship was “fired upon by Iranian fighters.”
Other vessels were also struck. The Japan-flagged container ship ONE Majesty sustained minor damage from an unknown projectile northwest of Ras Al-Khaimah while at anchor, though all crew remained safe. The Marshall Islands-flagged Star Gwyneth, a bulk carrier, was hit by an unknown projectile northwest of Dubai, damaging its hull, though its owner, Star Bulk Carriers, confirmed no injuries. Trump has also faced pushback from allies over the conflict, and his threats toward the UK for not joining the Iran war have drawn significant attention.
Iran’s IRGC has explicitly warned that any ship passing through the strait will be targeted. While Trump claims the US has “knocked out all of their boats” and struck 28 Iranian mine-laying vessels, other reports indicate Iran has deployed about a dozen mines in the strait.
Published: Mar 12, 2026 11:27 am