An Iranian commercial vessel was struck near Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz on September 13, killing one crew member and wounding at least three others, according to Iranian officials and the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations monitor [3][4][21]. The attack occurred as a planned meeting between Iran and Gulf Arab states on reopening the strait was postponed at Saudi Arabia's request, and as Iran's Persian Gulf Strait Authority published a list of 77 ships blacklisted for violating its transit protocols [1][7][8]. The US-Iran war has been ongoing since February, with mutual attacks in the strait and Washington's naval blockade of Iranian ports reinstated in July [2][13].
Separately, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps stated that the Panama-flagged oil tanker El Gaia exploded after striking a naval mine while attempting to cross a prohibited zone south of Hormuz, and declared the strait closed and under Iranian control [2][11][18]. US Central Command rejected that account, calling the IRGC's mine claim false and stating that Iran struck the El Gaia with a missile last month and again with a drone this weekend while the vessel was anchored off the coast of Oman [10][11][18][19]. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations and India's Ministry of External Affairs verified the September 13 El Gaia incident off Oman as a projectile attack [18].
President Donald Trump declined to say whether the United States struck the Iranian cargo vessel, responding "I don't want to say," and has repeatedly asserted that the American military exercises "total control" over the strait [4][8][10]. CENTCOM reported that US forces have redirected 101 commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz as part of the naval blockade of Iran [13][19]. IRGC Navy Deputy Political Director Ali Mohammadi challenged Trump's claim, stating there is no US soldier or equipment in the Gulf, Sea of Oman, or Strait of Hormuz [21].
Iran's Persian Gulf Strait Authority published an updated list adding 77 vessels to its transit ban, warning they face fines, detention, or confiscation, and urging insurers, protection and indemnity companies, and classification societies not to service the listed ships [7][8]. The authority also threatened to list commercial ships cooperating with the US and its allies [8]. Iran says it will not reopen the strait until Washington meets demands over US attacks, reparations, and sanctions [8][10]. Iran's security chief Mohsen Rezaei said there will be no talks with the US until Iran's demands are met [10]. President Masoud Pezeshkian said "Our people can't be bullied into submission. Iran won't surrender" [4].
International Maritime Organization Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez stated that no country has the right to prohibit innocent passage or freedom of navigation through international straits and called tolls on international waterways contrary to the law of the sea [20]. Dominguez urged de-escalation [20].
The diplomatic meeting between Iran and Gulf Arab states, scheduled for September 14 in Salalah, Oman, was postponed after Saudi Arabia requested the delay citing the deteriorating situation in Yemen [1][9][15][16]. Oman's Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi announced the postponement "in the interests of consensus" and said Oman remains committed to fostering dialogue that supports stability and lasting cooperation in the region [1][4][5][9][12]. Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Saudi Arabia requested the postponement and denied any Iranian role in Yemen [9][15].
Saudi Arabia submitted amendments to the Iran-Oman agreement, citing concerns that the emerging deal could establish an unacceptable new status quo in the strait [4][17][19]. Bahrain declined to attend the meeting, citing a lack of diplomatic relations with Tehran, and conditioned its participation on compensation from Iran [4][17]. Iraq was the only country to publicly confirm plans to attend before the postponement [4].
Houthi forces seized the strategic islands of Greater and Lesser Hanish in the southern Red Sea and captured Perim Island in the Bab el-Mandeb strait [5][6]. The Houthi military spokesperson said forces attacked the King Khalid airbase at Khamis Mushait in southern Saudi Arabia with dozens of missiles and drones, hitting hangars, radar systems, runways, and ammunition depots, in retaliation for more than 300 Saudi airstrikes in Yemen [1][5][9][12]. Saudi Arabia's Foreign Ministry held Iran-backed militias in Iraq responsible for a drone attack on the kingdom's 1,200-kilometer east-west pipeline, which remained shut throughout the weekend [6][12].
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman held urgent discussions with CENTCOM chief Adm Brad Cooper in Jeddah after seeking military assistance from Trump to fight the Houthis [5]. Trump refused to launch airstrikes against the Houthis, saying they called and do not want to fight [6]. The Yemeni government reported preliminary tolls of 150 civilians killed and 200 injured during the Houthi advance, with about 85,000 people displaced [5].
Brent crude rose above $108 a barrel, US retail diesel topped $6.23 a gallon, and German petrol prices reached record levels [1][5][9][12]. Financial market operators said the closure of the Saudi pipeline could cut global oil supply by as much as 4% unless reopened within days [1]. War-risk insurance premiums for Hormuz transits rose from under 0.25% of hull value pre-war to 1% with seven-day renewals, with a single oil transit costing 2-3% of hull value in premiums [23][24].
Japan announced a government package to diversify crude procurement away from Hormuz, support bypass pipelines, and accelerate nuclear and renewable energy [25]. South Korea authorized qualified carriers to use the Red Sea bypass route via Saudi Arabia's Yanbu with naval monitoring [26]. India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said talks with Iran to reopen the strait were yielding positive results without a blanket agreement [27]. African governments from Kenya to Nigeria reported fuel shortages and implemented emergency measures including price controls and natural-gas conversion programs [28]. Thailand, which imports 57% of its crude from the Middle East, planned to shift sourcing to West Africa and the Americas [29].
Pakistani sailor Yasar Khan was killed by a missile while asleep aboard a vessel in Iran, and another Pakistani crew member survived 24 hours at sea [22]. Captain Anam Chowdhury, president of the Bangladesh Merchant Marine Officers Association, estimated around 40,000 crew members are stranded on ships in the Gulf and said more than a dozen seafarers have died in attacks on commercial vessels [22].
The Hormuz talks remain unscheduled, with Oman and Iran citing the need for regional consensus and Saudi Arabia's amendments still unaddressed [4][17]. Trump said he will decide whether Washington engages with Iran, predicting the war will end this year and gasoline prices will fall sharply afterwards [10][12].