Iran said that seven vessels attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz without following Tehran’s protocols were damaged or set on fire overnight. 

Iranian state television reported the claims on Thursday. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) also warned that it could strike US military bases in the region if the US Navy continues to escort tankers through the Strait without complying with Tehran’s protocols. 

Iran stepped up attacks on vessels attempting to transit the waterway without receiving permission from Tehran in October. More ships have been hit during the first three weeks of October than in any comparable period since March.

The Strait of Hormuz has become a crucial issue for President Donald Trump. Before the war, the Strait was a free and open waterway. After the US and Israel launched their war against Iran, Tehran imposed restrictions on shipping through the Strait.

Tehran asserts that Iran and Oman, as the coastal states bordering the Strait, have sovereign rights over the waterway. Tehran and Muscat have held negotiations on establishing new shipping routes and protocols through the waterway, leading Trump to threaten attacks on Oman. 

Before the war, a fifth of the global oil supply exited the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz. The waterway has largely been closed due to Iran’s restrictions on shipping and the US blockade of Iran. 

The closure of the Strait caused a spike in oil prices. The price of a barrel of Brent crude oil reached $113 on Thursday. The US attempted to increase the export of Gulf oil by escorting tankers through the Strait and Saudi Arabia pumping oil through its Red Sea ports. However, Ansar Allah’s attacks on Saudi energy infrastructure and Iranian attacks on tankers in the Strait have significantly constrained Gulf oil exports.