Iran: Deliberate Attacks on Civilian Ships in Strait of Hormuz Constitute War Crimes

Last updated: 13 October 2026

Photo: Civilian Tanker - Stephanie Young Merzel
Iranian forces appear to have deliberately targeted at least two civilian commercial ships in and around the Strait of Hormuz on March 11, 2026 — attacks that constitute war crimes under international humanitarian law, Human Rights Watch reported on March 24. Between March 1 and 17, the UN's International Maritime Organization (IMO) confirmed 17 incidents of damage to commercial vessels in the region, resulting in at least seven seafarers killed, four missing, and ten injured. The Strait of Hormuz carries approximately one-quarter of the world's seaborne oil trade, and the attacks and their threat have contributed to a 40 percent rise in crude oil prices, with potentially catastrophic consequences for global food security.

The Documented Attacks

Human Rights Watch documented the apparent deliberate targeting of two commercial ships on March 11: the Safesea Vishnu, an oil tanker, and the Mayuree Naree, a Thai-flagged bulk carrier. The IRGC's official news agency IRNA confirmed both attacks. In the case of the Safesea Vishnu, Iranian authorities confirmed striking the vessel "after it failed to comply with the warnings of the IRGC Navy." One crew member was killed. In the case of the Mayuree Naree, the Omani navy rescued 20 of the vessel's 23 crew members; three remain on board the damaged ship which has since moved into Iranian territorial waters.

Analysis of videos posted to social media shows the Safesea Vishnu engulfed in flames following two large explosions seconds apart, filmed by a vessel claiming to be the IRGC Navy. IMO data and vessel-tracking confirmed that both ships were civilian commercial vessels with civilian crews. The New York Times reported that one of the vessels was used by Iraq for its own oil transport.

Iran's Intent and International Law

Iranian commanders made explicit statements demonstrating intent to attack civilian ships. On March 4, an IRGC navy official announced that the Strait of Hormuz was "under the complete control of the Islamic Republic of Iran." On March 11, an IRGC spokesperson stated that if the US and Israel continued attacks on Iran, Iranian forces would not allow "one liter of oil" through the strait. On March 16, IRGC Brigadier General Naini stated that Iranian forces had targeted all vessels owned by a US or Israeli entity, regardless of flag — without distinguishing between military and civilian ships.

Under international humanitarian law, it is absolutely forbidden to carry out direct attacks against civilians and civilian objects. Civilian vessels with commercial ties to the US or Israel remain civilian objects. Warring parties must take all feasible precautions to verify that targets are military objectives before striking. A person who intentionally or recklessly commits serious violations of the laws of war may be prosecuted for war crimes.

Global Humanitarian Impact

The crude oil price has risen by 40 percent since the conflict began, according to the New York Times. The World Food Programme's Deputy Executive Director warned on March 17 that if the conflict continues, "an additional 45 million people could be pushed into acute hunger by price rises." The Financial Times reported that experts describe the Middle East war as close to triggering "a global food shock worse than that unleashed by Russia's 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine," given the significant percentage of fertiliser raw materials transported through the strait.

HRW called on Iran to immediately cease attacks on civilian ships, rescue the remaining crew members of the Mayuree Naree, and release any detained seafarers. It also called on the United States and Israel to end unlawful attacks on civilian objects and warned all parties to take steps to minimise long-term environmental damage from oil spills caused by the conflict.

Source: Human Rights Watch — Iran: Deliberate Attacks on Civilian Ships Apparent War Crimes (March 24, 2026)