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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iran’s maritime authority has blacklisted 122 commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, with 40 facing “enforcement action” amid an escalating standoff with Washington over control of the strategic waterway, as Tehran officials warn escalation could trigger a global energy crisis.
"122 vessels have been added to the Persian Gulf Waterway Non-Compliance List," the Persian Gulf Strait Authority announced in a statement published by Fars News Agency, affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), early Tuesday, adding that “enforcement action has been taken against more than 40 vessels”
The Authority noted that 19 vessels are currently negotiating to prevent inclusion on the non-compliance list, two vessels have agreed to fulfil their obligations to be delisted, and approximately 30 vessels will be added to the list if they fail to respond to warnings.
The announcement comes amid a sharp escalation in attacks on commercial vessels in and around the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway connecting the Persian Gulf to international shipping routes.
At least 26 attacks have been carried out on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding waters as of Sunday, the highest monthly tally since the second Iran war began on February 28, according to data compiled by the Washington Institute.
The attacks have intensified as Iran and the United States compete for control of the strategic passage following the outbreak of war between Tehran, Washington, and Tel Aviv in late February.
Several vessels have been struck by missiles, drones, and other projectiles in recent weeks, with some attacks causing fires, casualties, and significant damage in the energy corridor.
On Monday, IRGC spokesperson Hossein Mohebi stated that Tehran does not rule out the possibility of war, warning that any Iranian response will be "much more severe."
Mohebi added that the United States will face massive troubles in the event of an escalation and that the "world will suffer a serious energy crisis."
Highlighting the strategic vulnerability of the region, the spokesperson added, "7 major cables pass under the Strait of Hormuz, on which all the world's internet and commercial data depend; we mention this as a reminder so that the enemy knows."
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated on Saturday that since reinstating the maritime blockade on Iranian ports, its forces had redirected 138 commercial vessels to ensure compliance.
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