Tankers continue to burn in the Middle East despite hopes for de-escalation

Résumé détaillé

Nov 10 - Despite market bets on a de-escalation in the Iran war, new evidence has emerged in recent days of strikes on tankers in the Strait of Hormuz and on energy infrastructure…

Despite market bets on a de-escalation in the Iran war, new evidence has emerged in recent days of strikes on tankers in the Strait of Hormuz and on energy infrastructure in the Middle East.

On Nov 10, crude prices hit two-month lows after US officials downplayed the need for additional military action against Iran, with analysts noting US President Donald Trump’s more conciliatory tone since the Republicans’ defeat in the Nov 3 midterm elections.

However, there is little sign of attacks abating in November, after 37 ships were attacked in October, the highest monthly total since the start of the war, according to data from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

Videos posted on social media on Nov 8 and verified by Reuters showed a Navig8 tanker on fire near the coast of Oman. An image captured by the European Union’s Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellite on Nov 8 showed a large cloud of black smoke at the same location.

It was one of three tankers hit on Nov 8 for using “unauthorised routes” through the strait, Iranian state broadcaster IRIB reported, citing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy.

The vessel is managed by Navig8, majority owned by ADNOC Logistics & Services. Neither replied to emailed Reuters requests for comment.

At the same time, US forces continued to enforce a naval blockade of Iranian ports.

In the latest incident, a US military aircraft fired on and disabled a St. Kitts-flagged cargo vessel that tried to depart regional waters after visiting an Iranian port on Nov 7, US Central Command said.

Attacks in the strait have caused environmental damage, with oil leaking from damaged tankers.

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