Strait of Hormuz: Two cargo ships sank as Iran escalates its attacks ahead of the midterm elections in America

Two cargo ships sank near the Strait of Hormuz during the past 24 hours after being hit by unknown projectiles in two separate incidents. Which highlights the increasing risks threatening maritime traffic as Iran intensifies its attacks seeking to regain control of this vital waterway. The container ship "GFS Pride", registered in Singapore, was hit on Tuesday while crossing the strait, causing it to catch fire and then sink, according to what the Singapore Maritime and Ports Authority announced.

Video clips verified by Ufaq News show black smoke billowing from the ship as water seeped into it, while later footage and satellite images show goods scattered in the water and a small oil slick. The official Iranian Press TV channel reported that the ship “collided with a sea mine while passing on an unauthorized route,” an account that experts questioned, suggesting that the attack was carried out by a drone.

The merchant ship "Cape Dao", registered in Antigua and Barbuda, also sank, according to data from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) issued on Wednesday, after being hit by a projectile on September 23. The accident resulted in the death of an Indian crew member. Although many ships have been subjected to attacks in the Strait of Hormuz this year, these are only the second and third ships to have sunk in the Middle East since the Iranian conflict began in February, according to data from the International Maritime Organization.

The frequency of attacks has escalated significantly since late September, once again reducing the amount of oil crossing out of the Middle East and raising global oil prices. This matter has been a continuing source of concern for US President Donald Trump, as the midterm congressional elections approach, as the issues of fuel prices, customs duties, and other factors that raise the cost of living are at the forefront of the concerns of many voters.

Data from the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), which monitors maritime accidents, shows how high the risk is; Nine attacks have been reported in or near the Strait of Hormuz since Monday, including a drone attack that targeted an oil tanker. Only 4.147 million barrels of oil successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, which is less than a quarter of the levels recorded before the war, according to data from Kpler, a company specializing in tracking maritime shipping movement.

The company's data also shows that the seven-day average flow of oil through the strait has fallen sharply since early October. “The sinking of the Singapore-flagged JFS Pride represents a dangerous escalation after weeks of near-daily attacks on commercial vessels,” said Charlie Brown, a former US Navy officer and senior adviser to United Against Nuclear Iran (a non-profit organization that monitors and reports on sanctions violations against Iran).

Iran claims that the cause was a sea mine, but it is most likely that the attack was carried out by a drone. He added: “Many are wondering about the nature of the response that the US Navy will take regarding Iran’s escalating attacks on global shipping traffic.

But the real question is: What response will other countries give? How long will the world endure this threat to the movement of shipping, sailors, and freedom of navigation?

The US military continues to impose a blockade on Iranian ports to maintain economic pressure on Tehran. This strategy has worked to some extent; The Iranian economy is suffering from collapse, and in recent months Iran has clearly lost its influence and control over the strait, as the quantities of oil flowing from other Gulf countries through this waterway have risen to approaching their normal levels.

This is partly due to a complex operation that involves “dark transits” through the strait at night under US military protection, in which oil tankers turn off their transponders to avoid detection. This increased oil flow is the reason why Iran is currently intensifying its attacks and threats, hoping to regain its previous influence over the Strait, especially as American voters head to the polls.

The Trump administration has tried to lower prices in other ways, including a controversial deal announced last week to ease some sanctions on Russia to allow the import of a relatively small amount of Russian diesel. However, this step was met with criticism from both the Republican and Democratic parties, and there is no guarantee that it will achieve a tangible breakthrough, in light of analysts’ warnings that diesel prices may rise to near record levels by November.