Two supertankers, each capable of transporting approximately two million barrels of crude oil, abruptly reversed course in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday following US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites, according to a report by Bloomberg.
The sudden maneuver has raised concerns about the potential impact of escalating tensions on commercial shipping through the region.
The vessels, Coswisdom Lake and South Loyalty, had entered the critical waterway but unexpectedly turned back and sailed south, moving away from the entrance to the Persian Gulf. Bloomberg`s vessel tracking data confirmed the ships’ movements.
Despite the increased electronic jamming and signal interference in the Persian Gulf since Israeli airstrikes on June 13, Bloomberg noted that the tankers’ behavior still resembled routine operational adjustments rather than isolated security incidents.
However, this is the first observed instance of possible route changes by oil carriers since the latest US-Iran confrontation.
The Greek shipping ministry has already issued a notice advising Greek-flagged vessels to reconsider their voyages through the Strait of Hormuz and to seek safe ports until the situation becomes more stable.
According to EuroNews, Iran is reportedly considering closing the Strait of Hormuz in response to the US strikes.
The narrow waterway is one of the world’s most strategic maritime chokepoints, through which a significant portion of the global oil supply is transported.
The US launched a large-scale aerial operation on Sunday, named Operation Midnight Hammer, targeting key Iranian nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described the mission as "an incredible and overwhelming success," executed on the direct orders of President Donald Trump.
Commercial satellite images indicate that the Fordow nuclear facility, a heavily fortified underground site, may have suffered substantial damage, potentially including the destruction of uranium enrichment centrifuges.
However, experts cited by international media noted that no official confirmation has been provided regarding the extent of the damage.
Vessel owners and oil traders are now closely monitoring the situation for further signs of shipping disruptions or broader impacts on global oil routes as regional tensions remain high.
