Iran damages 7 ships in 24 hours:Attacks 4 simultaneously; oil tanker traffic through Strait of Hormuz falls 99% since war began

Iran’s navy said it had damaged seven ships within 24 hours. They included four oil-carrying vessels, which were attacked simultaneously and caught fire. Meanwhile, three ships west of the Strait of Hormuz struck mines. Iran has alleged that the ships travelled through a maritime route they were not permitted to use despite being warned. The four vessels were then attacked simultaneously. Iran has not provided complete details about the names of the ships, their owners or the damage they sustained. Oil tanker traffic through Hormuz falls by 99% According to the Strategic Energy Map website, the number of oil tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz on 20 October fell by around 99% compared with normal days. This means that if 100 tankers normally passed through this route, only around one tanker passed through it that day. The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea. A major share of the world’s oil supply passes through this route. A decline in shipping traffic here could disrupt oil supplies and drive up prices. Iran warned the US of attacks Iran accused the US of provoking ships to pass through a sea route containing naval mines. The Iranian Navy warned that if the US continued such actions, the scope of retaliatory attacks could be expanded. US military bases in West Asia could also be targeted. Iran said its navy was controlling the movement of ships in the Strait of Hormuz. However, the United States did not immediately respond to the allegations. Trump says-something could happen soon US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the United States was not currently holding talks with Iran. He said that something could happen soon, but did not say what steps the United States would take next. Trump also said that the United States was performing well against Iran on both the military and economic fronts. Claim of preparations for new US-Israeli strikes According to a report in the American newspaper The New York Times, the United States and Israel have prepared plans to launch new strikes on Iran after the US midterm elections. These plans include targeting Iran’s energy facilities, nuclear sites and missile-and-drone bases. According to a report, the US is preparing to increase its military deployment in West Asia by early November. This could include three aircraft carriers, thousands of Marines and fighter aircraft. Iran also threatens retaliation Amid possible US strikes, Iran has also warned of retaliation. Hossein Mohibi, a spokesman for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, said the US had the “Mother of All Bombs”, while Iran would show it the “Father of All Bombs”. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said the current situation was not good for Iran, West Asia or the world as a whole. He said that despite pressure and war, Iran stood firmly and would continue to do so. Tensions in the region have intensified amid Iran’s claims of attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz and a sharp decline in the movement of oil tankers. If shipping through the sea route remains disrupted for a prolonged period, it could affect oil supplies and prices worldwide.