US targets mine-laying vessels in the Strait of Hormuz amid disruption of oil traffic

ABC News
March 20, 2026
1 min read

Quick Insights

Should this be getting more attention?

You Might Have Missed

Related stories from different sources and perspectives

Oil retreats as US and allies look to boost supply, unchoke Strait of Hormuz - Reuters

Oil retreats as US and allies look to boost supply, unchoke Strait of Hormuz - Reuters

<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMisAFBVV95cUxNd2Rpc2pia3d3NWVCUWNYTGo0b281N0RpbEx1MHVNR0JRbERGZnFsVGQxbHV6ZElVQ1dDNDhmRzJPVDNFWUJoLXVPT3VPZVh0eVBUOVNyZWtSV2NLeHZRaFJmQ003OGo1bU5Sb3pWY3VYUWx3a09ma01KbnBkMzdZYU11VDJ5TkJGSzhobGc5RFY0LWVrZFR3cENXWERlTU1wTU1YNVZsSFU4clBOVzc2UQ?oc=5" target="_blank">Oil falls as US and allies look to boost supply, unchoke Strait of Hormuz</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<font color="#6f6f6f">Reuters</font>

ReutersMar 20
Iran hits Gulf neighbors and keeps stranglehold on oil shipping as concerns rise of energy crisis - AP News
Global

Iran hits Gulf neighbors and keeps stranglehold on oil shipping as concerns rise of energy crisis - AP News

<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMilwFBVV95cUxNMnFkQ1lMcXNwMjZtWkluTVNScXFuZl9vakpnUFdHR2ZONGNlRlpDUlN0OWo3U0NEUHJTWXVWN3NWTzBycU5LU2laRkE0bkI3ZzlrQ0dhT2dPVk9WV0lWM3hoTW9MSHd4R1JCdHhyV1JRcGdUdzFJdV9JWllxckZpUXViaHlpdGZDYjJVdU1oY28xOFAwdlNr?oc=5" target="_blank">Iran hits Gulf neighbors and keeps stranglehold on oil shipping as concerns rise of energy crisis</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<font color="#6f6f6f">AP News</font>

AP NewsMar 16
Trump mulls risky Kharg Island takeover to force Iran to open strait

Trump mulls risky Kharg Island takeover to force Iran to open strait

<p>The Trump administration is considering plans to occupy or blockade Iran's Kharg Island to pressure Iran to reopen the <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/19/strait-hormuz-coalition-allies-statement-uk" target="_blank">Strait of Hormuz</a>, four sources with knowledge of the issue tell Axios.</p><p><strong>Why it matters:</strong> President Trump can't end the war, at least on his terms, until he breaks <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/13/iran-war-mines-strait-of-hormuz" target="_blank">Iran's chokehold</a> on shipping through the strait. In the meantime, global <a href="https://www.axios.com/energy-climate/oil-companies" target="_blank">energy</a> prices are surging.</p><hr><ul><li>But an operation to take over Kharg Island, which sits 15 miles offshore and processes 90% of Iran's crude oil exports, could put U.S. troops more directly in the line of fire.</li><li>Thus, such an operation would only be launched after the U.S. military further degrades Iran's military capa...

AxiosMar 20
US may remove sanctions on Iranian oil stranded in tankers, treasury secretary says

US may remove sanctions on Iranian oil stranded in tankers, treasury secretary says

<p>US treasury secretary says actions will increase oil supply and bring down prices, but long-term effects in question</p><p>The US may soon remove sanctions on Iranian oil stranded on tankers at sea, the treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, said on Thursday as Washington seeks to curb prices soaring over Iran’s closure of the strait of Hormuz.</p><p>“In the coming days, we may un-sanction the Iranian oil that’s on the water. It’s about 140m barrels,” Bessent said during an appearance on Fox Business Network’s Mornings with Maria.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/19/us-sanctions-iranian-oil-hormuz">Continue reading...</a>

The Guardian US NewsMar 20
Nearly 100 ships pass the Hormuz Strait - who is getting through?

Nearly 100 ships pass the Hormuz Strait - who is getting through?

Just under 100 ships have passed thorough the Strait of Hormuz since the start of March, according to data analysed by BBC Verify.

BBC NewsMar 20
Al Jazeera

Iran developing a ‘vetting system’ for Strait of Hormuz transit: Report

Lloyd's List reports that ships could be allowed to pass through 'safe corridor' once they are approved by IRGC.

Mar 20
Read Next
Trump faces his most difficult Iran war decision: Will he deploy U.S. troops to seize uranium?
National Security

Trump faces his most difficult Iran war decision: Will he deploy U.S. troops to seize uranium?

The president has been circumspect about how far he's willing to go to follow through on his pledge to destroy Iran's weapons program once and for all, including seizing or destroying the near-bomb-grade nuclear material that Iran possesses.

Continue reading

Did this story change how you see things?

Stories like this only matter when people see them. Help us get verified journalism in front of more eyes.

Share this story

Get the daily digest

Save for later

The Verity Ledger curates verified investigative journalism from trusted sources only.

See our sources