An analysis of data from UK maritime authorities by the BBC Verify team reveals that the number of weekly ships reporting attacks in and around the Strait of Hormuz has reached an all-time high, with four incidents reported during the current week. Crude oil exports have also experienced a slowdown.
According to experts, the United States military has increased its escort of oil tankers passing through the southern part of the Strait of Hormuz to counter Iranian attacks. In response, experts indicate that Iran is targeting vessels to strengthen its control over the vital shipping lane.
State media in Iran report that the naval forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) have warned that attacks will not be restricted solely to the Strait of Hormuz. Following this warning, the IRGC announced a new deployment pattern spanning across the entire region. Additional reporting for the analysis was provided by Becky Dale, with graphics from Tom Shil and Mark Edwards.