Iran-US tanker attacks have sharply escalated near the Strait of Hormuz, marking the biggest reported wave of attacks on shipping since the war began. Iran said it targeted 10 vessels after the United States destroyed five Iranian oil tankers.
The latest attacks have increased concerns over global energy supplies. Brent crude prices moved above $100 a barrel for the first time since July. Meanwhile, the average US retail diesel price also reached a record level above $5.94 per gallon.
The US military said it destroyed five Iranian oil tankers overnight. It described the strikes as a response to attacks by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on a US Navy warship. Washington said no American personnel were injured.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said it responded by firing ballistic missiles at a base used by US forces near Al Azraq in eastern Jordan. It also reported attacks on two US vessels and eight oil tankers near a restricted area of the Strait of Hormuz.
Maritime authorities also reported several merchant ships being hit by disabling fire in the northern Gulf and Gulf of Oman. One vessel was reportedly listing after being struck near the United Arab Emirates. A liquefied natural gas tanker was also reported damaged at Khor Fakkan.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has fallen sharply during the conflict. The waterway normally carries about one-fifth of global oil supplies. Iran has restricted traffic, while the US has imposed a blockade on Iranian ports and said it has helped some tankers pass through.
The escalation also comes as fighting between Saudi Arabia and Iran-aligned Houthis intensifies in Yemen. Houthi attacks on Saudi cities recently damaged oil facilities and injured dozens of people. Together, the Iran-US tanker attacks and wider regional fighting are increasing uncertainty for global energy and shipping markets.
