Life under fire: Iranians endure conflict and uncertainty on the Strait of Hormuz

A Guardian report captures the resilience and hardship of those living through the US-Israeli war in a critical strategic waterway

By LineZotpaper

Published21 October 2026

Read Time3 min

A fragile ceasefire has brought intermittent quiet to the Strait of Hormuz, but for the Iranians living and working on its shores and islands, the war continues to shape their daily reality. Attacks on shipping persist, livelihoods have been shattered, and the sounds of explosions are a nightly routine, as The Guardian reports from Bandar Abbas and Hormuz Island.

Even with a ceasefire in place, life along the Strait of Hormuz has barely returned to normal.

Captain Farouq, a 39-year-old ferry captain with 18 years of experience, navigates the waters between Bandar Abbas and Hormuz Island. He told The Guardian that while the crossings have not stopped since the start of the US-Israeli war on Iran on 28 February, the journey has become far more dangerous. Passenger numbers are down, and he hears explosions every night. His own ferry was damaged by shrapnel while docked.

The war has been devastating for the regional economy. According to Iranian government sources, attacks on the southern port of Bandar Abbas have damaged 760 fishing and commercial vessels. Fisherman Anvar Sadat, 38, said boats can no longer venture as far out and movement is heavily restricted. Several of his colleagues in the city have been killed in attacks.

"This place was hell," said Abdul Salam, a 45-year-old garbage collector, describing the beaches near the port during the height of the conflict. He stopped working almost entirely to avoid the risk.

The impacts extend beyond the port. In the first week of October alone, at least 12 attacks were reported against oil, LNG and LPG tankers, sending global oil prices back above $100 a barrel. The instability is putting pressure on US President Donald Trump, who is reportedly considering further strikes.

On Hormuz Island, known as something of a "hippy paradise" by its residents, the experience has been different. The roughly 8,000 people there are trying to preserve their community. "As long as you don't go north, they leave you alone," said Yashar, a 35-year-old surfer, referring to new military restrictions.

The tourism sector has been the hardest hit. "Guesthouses and homestays remain closed, as do restaurants and many cafes," said Omran, a 45-year-old tour guide. Visitors have largely stopped coming, dealing a heavy blow to the island's economy, which relies on fishing and tourism. Yet residents are determined to stay. Khaleh Kaniz, a 67-year-old painter born and raised on the island, laughed when asked if she had considered leaving. "Why should we leave? Where would we go? Our homes and our lives are here," she said.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint for global energy supplies, meaning local instability has direct consequences for world oil markets and prices.
The human cost of the war is starkly visible in the port of Bandar Abbas and on Hormuz Island, where people have lost colleagues, livelihoods and a sense of safety.
The fragile ceasefire remains under severe strain. Continued attacks could trigger a wider escalation involving the United States and further disrupt global trade.

Background

The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway connecting the Persian Gulf to the open ocean, vital for the transit of oil and liquefied natural gas. The US-Israeli war on Iran began on 28 February, and while a ceasefire is currently in place, attacks in the region have not stopped. Gulf ports like Bandar Abbas have been heavily damaged, and coastal communities have been uprooted or forced to adapt to a wartime existence.

Key Perspectives

[Port Workers and Fishers]: Their livelihoods have been devastated. Fishing grounds are restricted by the danger of attacks, the port infrastructure is scarred, and colleagues have been killed. The fundamental act of earning a living has become a gamble with death. [Hormuz Island Residents]: The island's distinctive community, known for its freedom and artistic culture, is under severe economic pressure from the collapse of tourism. Residents are adapting to new military restrictions but are determined not to be driven from their homes. [Global Markets and Diplomacy]: The 12 tanker attacks in early October sent oil prices surging past $100 a barrel. The ongoing instability places intense pressure on the US administration to take further military action, creating a volatile feedback loop between local suffering and international strategic calculations.

What to Watch

Whether the ceasefire holds following the recent spate of attacks on commercial tankers.
Any announcement of new US military strikes, which the White House is reportedly considering.
The return of displaced residents and any revival of the shattered fishing and tourism industries in Hormozgan province.

Sources

Troubled waters: life during wartime for Iranians on the strait of Hormuz · World news | The Guardian

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 6 supported.

Show each claim

SupportedIranians living along the Strait of Hormuz are enduring conflict there.World news | The Guardian: “Even with a fragile ceasefire in place, here on the coast, it has barely felt as though the war has stopped.”
Partly supportedA fragile ceasefire has brought intermittent quiet to the Strait of Hormuz.World news | The Guardian: “Even with a fragile ceasefire in place, here on the coast, it has barely felt as though the war has stopped.”
SupportedAttacks on shipping persist.World news | The Guardian: “Since the start of the war, Iranian forces have repeatedly attacked vessels attempting to cross the strait.”
Partly supportedExplosions are a nightly routine for people on the Strait.World news | The Guardian: “For months, Farouq has heard explosions coming from the strait, unclear as to whether that is air defence or attacks, or both. Tonight is no different.”
SupportedAttacks on Bandar Abbas damaged 760 fishing and commercial vessels, according to Iranian government sources.World news | The Guardian: “According to Iranian government sources, attacks on the southern port of Bandar Abbas have damaged 760 fishing and commercial vessels.”
Partly supportedSeveral of Anvar Sadat’s colleagues in Bandar Abbas were killed in attacks.World news | The Guardian: “Anvar Sadat, a 38-year-old fisher who works at Bandar Abbas’s fish market, says business has slowed and that making ends meet has become increasingly difficult. “Fishing boats can’t go out as freely as before the war, and our movement is restricted,” he says, adding that several of his colleagues in the city have been killed in attacks.”
SupportedAbdul Salam said, “This place was hell.”World news | The Guardian: ““This place was hell,” says Abdul Salam, a 45-year-old garbage collector.”
Partly supportedAt least 12 attacks were reported against oil, LNG and LPG tankers in the first week of October, sending global oil prices above $100 a barrel.World news | The Guardian: “In the first week of October alone, at least 12 attacks were reported against oil, liquefied natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas tankers, sending oil prices back above $100 a barrel .”
Partly supportedInstability is putting pressure on Donald Trump, who is reportedly considering further strikes.World news | The Guardian: “With pressure mounting on the US president, Donald Trump, before the midterm elections, he is rumoured to be once again considering strikes.”
Partly supportedYashar said, “As long as you don't go north, they leave you alone,” referring to new military restrictions.World news | The Guardian: ““As long as you don’t go north, they leave you alone,” he says of the army.”
SupportedOmran said, “Guesthouses and homestays remain closed, as do restaurants and many cafes.”World news | The Guardian: ““Guesthouses and homestays remain closed, as do restaurants and many cafes.””
SupportedKhaleh Kaniz said, “Why should we leave? Where would we go? Our homes and our lives are here.”World news | The Guardian: ““Why should we leave? Where would we go? Our homes and our lives are here.””