Iran vows to keep fighting as ships sink in Strait of Hormuz

Iran says it does not want an endless war but will keep fighting until the US accepts its demands, Al Jazeera reports. The statement came as ships sank in the Strait of Hormuz.

CBS News reports that strikes have ramped back up in the strait, making the route unsafe for commercial ships. Al Jazeera published video showing containers and debris scattered around the strait after the recent attacks.

The Singapore-flagged container ship GFS Pride was hit by a projectile on Tuesday, according to Singapore's maritime authorities, as reported by the BBC. All 21 sailors were evacuated safely. The BBC, the Guardian and CNBC report that the ship sank.

Iran gives a different account. PBS NewsHour reports that Iran says a cargo ship sank after hitting a mine. The report does not say which ship Iran meant.

The Guardian reports that a second cargo vessel was also said to be sinking. It and Al Jazeera describe the attacks as the worst since the start of the US-Israel war with Iran. Al Jazeera says oil flows have dropped again.

CNBC says Iran has escalated strikes on commercial ships in recent weeks to choke off a rebound in crude oil exports. The Guardian says the surge suggests Iran wants to close the waterway fully and undercut Donald Trump's efforts to lower fuel prices before the US midterm elections on 3 November. That is the Guardian's interpretation.