Iran war: Trump could ease sanctions; French plan naval mission; bulker targeted near Abu Dhabi

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported on 10 March that a bulk carrier’s master witnessed a splash and heard a loud bang near the vessel. The incident occurred 36 nautical miles north of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

UKMTO said authorities are investigating and advised vessels to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity.

Attacks on commercial vessels have escalated since the outbreak of the US-Israel war with Iran. According to International Maritime Organization (IMO) records, 10 vessels have been targeted in the Middle East and the Strait of Hormuz between 1 and 7 March, resulting in seven fatalities among seafarers and shipyard workers.

IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez has emphasised that crews simply doing their jobs must be protected from the effects of wider geopolitical tensions.

US to ease sanctions

As transits through the critical Strait of Hormuz remain largely constrained, US President Donald Trump is considering easing certain oil-related sanctions, while French President Emmanuel Macron outlined a planned “defensive mission” to escort vessels in the region.

Major media and wire services reported on 9 March that US President Donald Trump is set to ease oil-related sanctions to alleviate the war’s impact on global supplies.

“We have sanctions on some countries. We’re going to take those sanctions off till the Strait [of Hormuz] is up,” President Trump said at a news conference in Florida, according to Reuters.

The US President did not specify the measures in detail, but The Guardian reported that his remarks followed a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Notably, the US issued a temporary 30-day waiver last week, allowing Indian refiners to purchase Russian oil. India, one of the main buyers of Russian crude, is particularly affected by Middle East tensions, as around half of its crude imports pass through the Strait of Hormuz.