A commercial oil tanker was set ablaze in the Strait of Hormuz after it was struck by an Iranian suicide drone, the country’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said Saturday, as the US Navy has yet to begin a mission to safeguard ships through the region.
The IRGC claimed the tanker — the Prima, sailing under a Maltese flag — had ignored repeated warnings not to enter the strait, according to Tasnim News Agency, Iran’s state media.
The flow of oil through the strait — one of the world’s most vital energy arteries connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea which sees roughly 20 million barrels of oil, about 20% of global supply, pass through it daily — has ground to a near-total halt since Iran declared it closed at the start of the war.
As a result, US oil prices shot up $20 a barrel in just a week, surging to $90 a barrel Friday, sparking recession fears if the US doesn’t neutralize the IRGC’s threat in the region soon.
The strait, which sits between Iran and Oman, is governed by international maritime law that is supposed to guarantee everyone passage. But historically, Iran has had the greatest ability to influence passage through it during times of conflict.
After the killing of the Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Islamic Republic claimed, “the strait is closed.”
“If anyone tries to pass … the navy will set those ships ablaze,” promised Ebrahim Jabari, a senior adviser to the IRGC’s commander-in-chief on Monday.
“We will not allow a single drop of oil to leave the region. Oil price will reach $200 in the coming days,” he vowed.
Most tankers are sitting idle in the Indian Ocean, as they fear being sunk by an Iranian drone if they cross.
In response, President Trump on Tuesday said the US Navy could begin escorting oil tankers through the straight.
“No matter what, the United States will ensure the free flow of energy to the world,” he said.
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No escort mission had been launched as of Saturday. The Pentagon didn’t return The Post’s request for comment.
“All eyes are on the US Navy,” Peter Doran, adjunct senior fellow at Washington-based Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told The Post.
By escorting vessels through the Strait, the Navy would essentially provide a protective shield by shooting down any Iranian drone or missiles that attempt to sink oil, he said.
“The US Navy is very good at shooting down drones and missiles,” Doran added.
“But we need to see a very clear presence by the Navy and frankly the Pentagon could do a much better job at explaining to the world what its plans are and how it intends to resolve this bottleneck.”
If safe passage isn’t restored by the end of next week, Doran said the White House likely will face intense pressure from consumers, as prices of gas at the pump are expected to continue soaring.
“We’re looking at a test of wills and the test of naval power, the IRGC versus the US Navy,” he said. “The US Navy is absolutely likely to win that contest, but all eyes would like to see action from the Navy.”
Only nine large vessels have managed to get through the strait over the past week, Doran said.
Meanwhile, Kuwait Petroleum Corporation declared a “force majeure” on Saturday, and began cutting oil output, following suit after Iraq and Qatar — as the bottleneck has oil-producing countries running out of storage.
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