A series of attacks on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz has led to a spike in oil prices, with Brent crude futures jumping 3% over the past week to $US91.38. The attacks, which resulted in two casualties, were reported by British maritime officials and have caused uncertainty over passage through the strait. Iranian top negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf has said that the strait will remain shut until the US meets certain conditions, including lifting its blockade and removing oil sanctions. US President Donald Trump has responded to the situation with increasingly aggressive rhetoric, stating that he would not extend a ceasefire between Iran and the US and claiming that the US would claim the strait as a territory after the war.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-19,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
verbatim and was checked against the article text before being
stored, so you can find it in the original.
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a string of attacks on vessels passing through the strait has unsettled investors
left framing that treats structural causes as primary
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energy prices have remained higher than pre-war levels while the roughly 500 million barrels that usually flow through the strait each month slowed to a trickle
left framing that treats structural causes as primary
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Mr Trump said there are no talks planned between the two countries, and insisted the strait was open. "The Hormuz Strait is open and operating. All water mines have been removed or detonated," he said
right characterization that implies a US claim of fact as truth
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He recently threatened to bomb US ally Oman, saying: "If Oman gets in the way, we'll bomb the shit out of them"
right framing that suggests aggressive military action
Leaning score -0.45 for article 1202 (medium confidence, 4 verified quotes) · logged 2026-08-24
In short:
Three ships travelling through the contested Strait of Hormuz have been hit, according to British maritime officials, with casualties reported.
uncertain
casualties → travel → officials
In this story:
Three ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz have been attacked in recent days, British maritime officials said.
asserted
officials → pass → days
The ships were struck by unknown projectiles, resulting in two casualties, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency.
INTERCARGO, an association of cargo shipowners, reported that a sailor aboard the Liberian-flagged bulk carrier Minoan Dynasty was killed on Monday.
uncertain
sailor → strike → Monday
While hostilities between Iran and the United States have eased in recent weeks, a string of attacks on vessels passing through the strait has unsettled investors, pushing oil prices to a three-week high.
Brent crude futures jumped more than 3 per cent over the past week, to $US91.38 by 5:45pm AEST on Friday.
asserted
futures → ease → Friday
Uncertainty over passage through strait
Iran's top negotiator, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, said on state media yesterday the strait will remain shut until the US meets the conditions of an interim deal signed between the two countries in June.
asserted
US → say → June
The conditions include the US lifting its own blockade, removing oil sanctions, unfreezing Iranian assets and ending military threats, he told parliament.
asserted
he → include → parliament
However, last week, Saudi Aramco, the world's top oil producer, resumed loading oil from inside the strait, eyeing Singapore and Malaysia as potential destinations.
asserted
Aramco → resume → destinations
Despite Iran and the US not directly trading blows, energy prices have remained higher than pre-war levels while the roughly 500 million barrels that usually flow through the strait each month slowed to a trickle.
asserted
that → trade → trickle
In a rally speech on Friday, US President Donald Trump said Americans should prepare for higher petrol prices as the war continues.
asserted
war → say → prices
Shipping through the contested strait has slowed further in recent days, following similar attacks on vessels last week and talks between Iran and the US stalling.
asserted
talks → contest → Iran
Mr Trump said there are no talks planned between the two countries, and insisted the strait was open.
"The Hormuz Strait is open and operating.
asserted
Strait → say → countries
All water mines have been removed or detonated," he said on Truth Social yesterday.
"
asserted
he → remove → Social
The Naval Blockage remains in full force and effect."
asserted
Blockage → remain → force
A ceasefire between Iran and the US expired on Monday, and Mr Trump said he would not be extending it.
asserted
he → expire → it
The president also said that the US would claim the strait as a US territory after the war.
uncertain
US → say → war
Trump upping the rhetoric
asserted
Trump → up → rhetoric
The strait is becoming a point of stress for the American president, as the ongoing Iran war becomes increasingly unpopular at home.
asserted
war → become → home
He recently threatened to bomb US ally Oman, saying: "If Oman gets in the way, we'll bomb the shit out of them", in an interview with Fox News.
asserted
we → threaten → News
Oman, whose coastline is a part of the Strait of Hormuz, and Iran have been discussing opening the strait for weeks.
asserted
coastline → discuss → weeks
Six months into the conflict, 17 seafarers have died in the waterway according to the UN, with the number of ships passing through estimated to have dropped by roughly 90 per cent.
uncertain
number → die → cent
Many ships travel with their navigation and identification devices turned off to make them harder to attack.
asserted
them → travel → ?
"Seafarers are civilians and must never become targets or collateral victims of geopolitical conflicts," INTERCARGO said in a statement.
"One seafarer lost is one too many."
ABC/Reuters
asserted
seafarer → become → statement
