US Sinks Iranian Warship as Iran Blockades Hormuz Strait

Maritime conflict escalated in the Strait of Hormuz as Donald Trump ordered the destruction of 16 Iranian mine-laying ships and threatened severe military consequences to clear the waterway. The escalation follows a broader war between the United States and Israel against Iran that began on February 28. In a separate engagement near Sri Lankan waters, a U.S. submarine torpedoed the Iranian warship Iris Dena, killing at least 87 sailors.

Iran intensified its blockade by attacking commercial vessels that ignored naval warnings. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps confirmed strikes on the Liberian-flagged Express Room and Thai-flagged Mayuree Naree, while other tankers were hit in Iraqi waters. These actions caused a near-total halt of tanker traffic and pushed oil prices toward $120 a barrel, prompting the International Energy Agency to release 400 million barrels of strategic reserves.

Regional governments are struggling to navigate the blockade. The Government of Türkiye secured passage for the Turkish-owned ship Rozana, though 14 other Turkish vessels remain stranded with 171 crew members. Meanwhile, U.S. Central Command redirected three commercial ships attempting to breach the Iranian blockade. The instability has also crippled regional travel, with Turkish Airlines, AJet, and Pegasus Airlines suspending flights to several Middle Eastern nations through late March.