Between March 3 and 5 four more vessels were struck: the Libra Trader, Gold Oak, Safeen Prestige and the Sonangol Namibe. Iran’s mixed messagesIran exports its own oil via the Strait of Hormuz and its intentions remain unclear. A Revolutionary Guards general warned on March 2 that Iran would “burn any ship” attempting to cross the strait and block all Gulf oil exports. But Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said it had “no intention” of closing the Strait of Hormuz. US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said it would escort merchant ships attempting to transit the strait “as soon as it’s reasonable to do it”.

Source: New Zealand Herald March 09, 2026 03:01 UTC