# [FLASH] US Navy redirects 65 ships amid Iran blockade tensions

*Tuesday, May 12, 2026 at 1:18 PM UTC — Hamer Intelligence Services Desk*

**Detected**: 2026-05-12T13:18:34.727Z (2h ago)
**Tags**: MARKET, energy, oil, shipping, MiddleEast, Iran, US
**Sources**: OSINT
**Permalink**: https://hamerintel.com/data/alerts/6538.md
**Source**: https://hamerintel.com/summaries

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**Summary**: US CENTCOM reports redirecting 65 commercial vessels and disabling 4 as the USS Abraham Lincoln continues blockade operations against Iran, while Brent is already above $107 with the Strait of Hormuz effectively blocked. This deepens the supply-side risk to global oil and product flows and adds further upside risk to crude benchmarks and freight, as well as safe-haven demand.

## Detail

US CENTCOM has stated that US forces have redirected 65 commercial vessels and disabled 4 in the context of the ongoing naval blockade of Iran, while the carrier USS Abraham Lincoln continues operations in the Arabian Sea to enforce the blockade. This comes alongside reports that the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked and Brent crude for July delivery has already traded above $107 per barrel, up nearly 3% on the day.

The redirection and disabling of commercial vessels imply material disruption to normal Gulf–global shipping patterns. While today’s reports do not specify cargo types, the Gulf tanker fleet and regional container trade are both likely affected. Roughly 17–18 million bpd of crude and condensate and a significant share of global refined product exports normally transit Hormuz. Even if only a fraction of this volume is currently constrained, the market is now forced to price a non‑trivial probability of extended supply outages or costly rerouting via alternative ports and storage.

The immediate impact is a higher risk premium in crude and product benchmarks (Brent, WTI, Dubai), with front‑end contracts most exposed. Tanker freight rates, especially VLCC and product tankers on AG–East and AG–West routes, should see sharp gains. Refining margins outside the Gulf may widen as physical barrels become tighter and voyage times extend. LNG flows from Qatar are also at risk if navigational constraints around Hormuz persist, supporting European and Asian gas benchmarks (TTF, JKM) via sentiment and potential physical rerouting.

Financial assets likely to move include safe‑haven gold and the US dollar versus EM energy importers’ currencies. Equities in shipping, defense, and non‑Gulf upstream producers (US shale, North Sea, West Africa) stand to benefit, while airlines and energy‑intensive sectors face margin pressure.

Historically, similar choke‑point scares (e.g., 2019 tanker attacks, 2011 Iran–Hormuz threats) have added a $5–15/bbl risk premium in the short run, with volatility elevated so long as military operations continue. The duration of this shock is uncertain, but as long as a formal US blockade of Iran is in place and commercial vessels are being actively diverted or disabled, the premium is structural rather than transient, with the curve likely to backwardate further as prompt supply fears dominate.

**AFFECTED ASSETS:** Brent Crude, WTI Crude, Dubai Crude, Gasoil futures, RBOB gasoline, LNG spot (JKM), TTF natural gas, Tanker freight (VLCC AG–China, AG–Europe), Gold, USD index, EM FX of oil importers (INR, TRY, PKR, PHP)