Oil Shipments in Persian Gulf Already Disrupted by Iran Attack

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: New York Times

Feb. 28, 2026 Updated 6:21 p.m. ET


The widening military conflict in the Persian Gulf quickly began to disrupt shipping in one of the world’s biggest oil-and-gas producing regions, threatening to send energy prices soaring. Oil markets were closed on Saturday when the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran that spurred retaliatory strikes across the Middle East.

But shipping companies quickly began trying to steer clear of the region and the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway on Iran’s southern border through which ships typically carry about one-fifth of the world’s oil and a significant amount of natural gas to market. Traffic through the strait fell considerably during the course of the day on Saturday, according to research firms that track tanker movements.

The Iranian military had cautioned ships to avoid the area, saying that “passage through the strait is currently unsafe,” according to Tasnim, a news outlet affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. But a U.S. official said there was no evidence Iran was attempting a military blockade of the strait.

Any sharp and prolonged reduction of tanker traffic through the strait, even a voluntary curtailment by shipping companies, could significantly cut the flow of oil from big producers, including Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Iran, and push up prices.

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/28/business/energy-environment/oil-gas-iran-attack.html

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No paywall (gift)

[pat_k]

1. Ships won't go without insurance.

...War risk underwriters began canceling policies for strait transits hours after Operation Epic Fury launched....

From this post:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100221058519

[gab13by13]

2. Iran would have to do a selective closure

seeing as China buys over 80% of Iranian oil.

[James48]

3. Ship was just hit - in the Straits of Hormuz now.

It’s on fire now. Burning the aft third of an oil tanker.

[Dr. T]

4. Coming soon to a gas station near you. Higher prices.

But we're all used to that since Douchbag Donnie returned. I'm waiting for some first rate gaslighting regarding the imminent increase in gas prices.

[timms139]

6. The oraange anus

will say that Obama and Biden caused the price increase of oil. The lemmings will eat it up and repeat it .

[LiberalLovinLug]

7. The one thing he had going in his political pocket.......lower gas prices. What a dotard

[twodogsbarking]

5. Nine dollar a gallon gas coming soon to a location near you.

Aren't we great.

[mdbl]

8. "But a U.S. official said there was no evidence Iran was attempting a military blockade of the strait."

Who was this official? I don't have a NYTimes subscription so I couldn't read the rest of the article.

[BumRushDaShow]

9. I had put the gift link in the OP comments when I posted the OP

No paywall (gift)



They didn't name "the official".

[mdbl]

10. That gift link doesn't work unless you use an email login.

So I don't consider it a gift, but thanks for the update. I was afraid "the official" was just some BS'er that wouldn't take responsibility for the statement.

[BumRushDaShow]

11. I know that WaPo supposedly did that but did not know that the NYT suddenly started doing it

Sometimes I can find those articles on msn or another aggregator like Yahoo! News, but they didn't republish this article.

[ancianita]

13. Instead of gift links, try the web archive link.

https://archive.ph

[BumRushDaShow]

14. I have been attacked for using those as illegal

so will not use them.

[ancianita]

15. Really? Attacked by whom and in what way? I've never had a problem using it.

The Wayback Machine looks sound.
And there are other US and worldwide archive links

Just a suggestion. Digital archiving, imo, seems like an important and even crucial public service.

[ancianita]

12. Try this link.

https://archive.ph/76e6n