The war in Iran continues! Two oil tankers struck a mine and caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz. Last month, 37 oil tankers were attacked, a record high.

Although the market is generally betting that the situation in the Middle East will gradually cool down, the latest evidence shows that oil tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz and energy infrastructure in the Middle East continue to be attacked, indicating that regional conflicts have not yet subsided.

Reuters reported that international crude oil prices fell to a nearly two-month low on the 10th after the Trump administration downplayed the need for further military action against Iran. Analysts pointed out that since the Republican Party lost the election on March 3, U.S. President Trump’s attitude towards Iran has become milder.

However, attacks in the Strait of Hormuz show few signs of abating. According to data from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, a total of 37 ships were attacked in October, setting a single-month record since the war broke out in late February this year.

Reuters checked a video posted on social media on the 8th and confirmed that a Navig8 oil tanker caught fire near the coast of Oman. Images taken by the Sentinel-2 satellite of the European Union's Copernicus program on the same day also showed large black smoke appearing in the same location.

The Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting and Television (IRIB) quoted the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy as reporting that the oil tanker was one of three oil tankers attacked on the 8th for using "unauthorized waterways" in the Strait of Hormuz.

The vessel is managed by Navig8, in which ADNOC Logistics & Services, a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, holds a majority stake. Reuters has emailed two companies for verification, but received no reply.

At the same time, the US military continues to impose a naval blockade on Iranian ports. US Central Command (US Central Command) stated that in the latest incident, a cargo ship flying the flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis tried to leave the waters of the area after docking at an Iranian port on the 7th. It was fired upon by US military aircraft, causing the ship to lose its navigation ability.

The attack in the Strait of Hormuz also caused environmental damage, with oil leaking from the damaged tanker flowing into the sea. Reuters checked a video circulated on social media on the 9th and confirmed that oil was drifting to the coast of Oman. Satellite images also showed oil spill pollution in the coastal waters of Oman and the United Arab Emirates.

In addition to the Strait of Hormuz, energy infrastructure and civilian facilities in other parts of the Middle East have also been attacked. Targets targeted by Iran and its regional allies include the offices of Saudi Aramco, the world's largest oil company.

Video reviewed by Reuters showed damage to Saudi Aramco's office building in the capital Riyadh after the Yemeni rebel youth movement (Houthi) claimed to have launched a missile attack on the 8th.

The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Energy stated that a Saudi Aramco building in Riyadh was affected by the attack. The debris generated by the attack caused minor damage to the building, and there were no reports of injuries or deaths.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) confirmed that since the outbreak of the conflict at the end of February this year, 130 incidents have occurred in the region, most of which were attacks, resulting in the deaths of at least 25 seafarers.

On the other hand, the UK Maritime Trade Action Office (UKMTO) stated on the 10th that another oil tanker was attacked in the waters northeast of Lima, Oman, but did not specify the identity of the attacker.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guards Navy said in a separate statement that two oil tankers caught fire after hitting mines in the "unauthorized channel" of the Strait of Hormuz.