Mediators are attempting to facilitate further talks, while Washington expresses confidence in its pressure tactics.
Tehran, Iran – Iran has reported success in attacking ships, including US Navy vessels, near the Strait of Hormuz, asserting that these strikes have compelled Washington to reposition its warships further from the Iranian coast.
US media reported on September 14 that eight US Marines experienced smoke inhalation and potential traumatic brain injuries after being targeted by an Iranian anti-ship cruise missile in the Strait of Hormuz. Al Jazeera contacted US Central Command (CENTCOM) for comments regarding these reports but did not receive a response. CENTCOM had previously indicated that US vessels had successfully avoided Iranian ballistic missile attacks earlier in the month. According to US officials, the vessel involved in the attack was not a US Navy ship.
The Pentagon has added 29 US sailors and eight Marines to its list of war-wounded, bringing the total since the onset of the war on February 28 to 861 service members, with at least 19 deaths recorded.
In recent days, Iranian state-linked media claimed that US warships had retreated from their previous blockade positions closer to the Iranian port of Chabahar and the Gulf of Oman, moving further into the central Arabian Sea to avoid Iranian missiles.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei referenced US naval movements in a message published by state media on Monday, stating that US forces are refraining from advancing due to the “painful blows” inflicted by Iranian forces. He added, “Whenever they have taken that risk, they have brought harm upon themselves,” and suggested that the Arabian Sea would soon be free of US forces.
The US continues to enforce a naval blockade of Iran’s southern ports while rejecting Iran’s recent proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Analysts suggest that controlled escalation is likely, although an all-out war is not imminent.
Maritime law and security expert Ian Ralby noted that Iran is likely to continue targeting ships, as this strategy has proven effective for Tehran during the conflict. He stated that missile and drone strikes allow a weaker military power to gain a strategic advantage and influence global markets. Ralby emphasized that attacks on ships will likely remain part of Iran’s military strategy for regional dominance.
Despite Iranian claims that the Strait remains closed to vessels not coordinating with Iranian authorities, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright reported nearly 13 million barrels of crude oil passing through the strait daily. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent provided a higher estimate of 15-22 million barrels per day, compared to approximately 20 million barrels per day before the war.
Crude exports through the Strait of Hormuz were projected to average 7.4 million barrels per day in September, according to preliminary data from Kpler. The data indicated that 19 tankers transited the strait in the week ending September 27, including 17 very large crude carriers (VLCCs).
Regional exports, including shipments from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Iraq, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, and Iran, rebounded to 12.8 million barrels per day in September, the highest since the war began.
Analysts on the Iranian state television program Be Vaght-e Iran acknowledged evidence suggesting at least seven million barrels of crude were passing through the Strait daily. They noted that Arab Gulf governments are utilizing shuttle systems to transport oil with US military protection, avoiding reliance on international insurance companies.
Following US President Donald Trump’s rejection of Iran’s conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, reports indicated that mediators are expected to facilitate further diplomatic exchanges between the two sides. Iran has stated there will be no direct negotiations and seeks to use existing agreements as baselines for future discussions with the US regarding the blockade and its nuclear program.
Hamidreza Azizi, a senior analyst at the Crisis Group, suggested that Iranian authorities may increasingly rely on attacks in the Strait of Hormuz if diplomatic efforts fail and the US blockade persists. He noted that while Tehran has not committed to a sustained campaign against US warships, the threshold for such actions appears to have lowered.
Azizi warned that significant US casualties from an Iranian attack could escalate tensions further. He indicated that Iran’s approach is likely to remain calibrated but could become more aggressive. Ralby added that violent actions have not yet led either party to pursue a lasting peace, although Iran’s ability to counter US actions has challenged certain narratives from Washington.
SOURCE: Al Jazeera English PUBLISHED: 2026-09-28 17:43:10