Tension has increased significantly in the Gulf region. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed to have complete control over the Strait of Hormuz. Due to this, the path of oil ships passing through there has almost been closed. America has alerted the Navy for the safety of its ships. According to the information received till March 4, 2026, the movement of ships on this route has fallen by 94%.
Warning to stop ships at sea
IRGC Navy officer Mohammad Akbarzadeh has clarified that they now have full authority over this route and it is closed to traffic. At the same time, Commander Ibrahim Jabbari has warned that any ship that tries to pass through here will be set on fire. He says that “not even a drop of oil” will be allowed to leave the area. In response, US President Donald Trump has ordered the US Navy to escort commercial tankers.
Which ships were attacked?
According to reports, at least 10 oil tankers and ships have been targeted since February 28. This includes Palau’s ship ‘Skylight’ which was attacked by drone and missile and 4 crew members were injured. Apart from this, the ship ‘Athe Nova’ was set on fire. There is also news of attack on ‘Stena Imperative’ parked in Bahrain and ‘MKD Vyom’ near Muscat. Considering security, big companies like Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd have stopped sending their ships through this route.
Oil prices and impact on common people
This tension can have a direct impact on the prices of petrol and diesel. On March 4, the price of Brent Crude increased by 10% to around $ 80 per barrel. Experts believe that if this route remains closed for a long time, the prices may go up to 100 to 150 dollars. A lot of oil and gas coming to India and Asia comes through this route, so the worry of inflation may increase for Indians living in Gulf countries and the general public in India.
