Iran Claims Strike on Togo-Flagged Oil Tanker Trend Amid Strait of Hormuz Confrontations

The Strait of Hormuz has become a new flashpoint in the ongoing US-Israel-Iran conflict. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) claims to have struck and detained the Togo-flagged oil tanker Trend while it attempted an 'illegal passage' through the strategic waterway.

According to Iranian state media, the tanker caught fire after being targeted by the IRGC Navy. The incident raises concerns about the safety of commercial shipping in the region, which has already seen a sharp decline due to the conflict.

The IRGC accused the vessel of attempting to cross the waterway outside the preferred route, allegedly influenced by the US military. The Revolutionary Guards have repeated their warning to shipowners and crews operating in the area, stating that 'illegal passage' through the Strait will result only in the destruction of the offending vessel.

The incident comes as commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains below normal levels, with only four vessels crossing the waterway on Thursday compared to a 10-day average of about 16. The fall in shipping has become an important concern for energy markets and countries dependent on Gulf supplies.