Royal Thai Navy Spokesperson
By Matthew Tostevin
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Thick, black smoke pours from the back of the Thai cargo vessel Mayuree Naree in images taken after it was attacked in the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic waterway that has become a focus of the war between the United States and Iran.
The pictures, shared by the Royal Thai Navy’s spokesperson, highlight the damage to the Mayuree Naree after it appeared to defy Iranian threats to try to navigate the strait, which lies between Iran and Oman, and through which a fifth of the world’s oil normally passes.
Why it Matters
The attack on the Mayuree Naree and attacks on two other vessels on Wednesday highlight the failure of American forces to secure the waterway for the passage of ships more than 10 days into the war that started with U.S. and Israeli airstrikes. The attacks came as the United States said it had destroyed 16 minelaying vessels.
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Iranian forces appear to be making good on threats to stop shipping through the route, a major factor in a rise in global oil prices since the attacks began. The attack on the Thai vessel came despite Thailand’s clearly stated neutrality in the conflict.
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What To Know
The images from Thailand’s navy show smoke coming from the upper deck of the Mayuree Naree and life rafts alongside the vessel. One of the photos was taken from the deck of the ship. The others appear to have been taken from life rafts.
Neither Iran’s foreign ministry nor Thailand’s navy responded immediately to Newsweek requests for comment.
The Mayuree Naree, a 30,000-ton Thai-flagged bulk carrier rather than an oil tanker, was attacked in the early hours of Wednesday morning after it had departed from Khalifa in the United Arab Emirates, according to Thai navy spokesperson Rear Admiral Parach Rattanachaiyapan.
The Omani navy rescued 20 crew members, bringing them to Khasab in Oman, and is searching for the remaining three, the Thai navy said in a statement on Rattanachaiyapan's Facebook page.
"The cause of the attack is still under investigation," the statement said.
Why Is the Strait of Hormuz Important?
The Strait of Hormuz is vital, not only for shipments of oil and natural gas, but also for fertilizer used by farmers. That means that if it is blocked it can quickly lead to price rises.
Despite the Iranian threat to shipping, some vessels have continued to try to run the gauntlet. It is unclear how many have been able to get through as ships tend to turn off their transponders before starting the passage to make it harder to detect them.
How Many Ships Were Hit in Strait of Hormuz?
The Hormuz Strait Monitor, an online tracking platform using open source information, showed only two ships had crossed the strait in the past 24 hours and with tonnage at less than two percent of the average.
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The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), which monitors global shipping security, reported three separate attacks on ships on Wednesday. That brought to 17 the total number of incidents recorded in an around the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman since the start of the conflict.
Is Iran Mining the Strait of Hormuz
The attacks have happened despite U.S. announcements that it has sunk dozens of Iranian naval ships—the latest being 16 minelaying vessels. President Donald Trump threatened serious consequences if Iran mines the strait, though at this point it is not clear whether it has done this. Trump himself said on Truth Social that the United States had no reports of that happening.
What People Are Saying
Admiral Parach Rattanachaiyapan of the Royal Thai Navy: "The Royal Thai Navy, through its Operations Center, will closely monitor the situation and expedite coordination with relevant agencies both domestically and internationally to ensure the swift and safe rescue of the 23 Thai crew members."
President Donald Trump in a post on Truth Social: "If Iran has put out any mines in the Hormuz Strait, and we have no reports of them doing so, we want them removed, IMMEDIATELY! If for any reason mines were placed, and they are not removed forthwith, the Military consequences to Iran will be at a level never seen before. If, on the other hand, they remove what may have been placed, it will be a giant step in the right direction!"
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy official Mohammad Akbarzadeh in a statement issued on Fars news agency on March 4: "The Strait of Hormuz is under the complete control of the Islamic Republic’s Navy."
What Happens Next
What happens in the Strait of Hormuz is an important focus of the ongoing military campaign. Should the United States prove unable to secure shipping there it could push oil prices much higher with knock-on effects for all prices. It would also be a significant win for Iran if it can retain its domination of the strait.
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