Brent crude passes $101 as US and Iran exchange tanker strikes near Hormuz

Mutual strikes on maritime shipping

Military clashes across Gulf waterways intensified on 8 and 9 September 2026, marking an exchange of direct strikes against commercial and naval vessels by both the United States and Iran. United States Central Command stated that American forces destroyed five Iranian oil tankers carrying crude overnight on Tuesday, 8 September. One of the targeted vessels, the M/T Riesco, sank in the Gulf of Oman, while another tanker was struck near Kharg Island, a facility responsible for approximately 90% of Iranian crude exports. Washington described the operation as retaliation for two ballistic missile attacks carried out against an American naval vessel over the preceding two days. Under a newly announced operational policy, the US military stated it had struck a total of 10 Iranian tankers over the previous week.

Iranian response in the Strait of Hormuz

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced on Wednesday, 9 September, that its forces targeted two US warships, eight oil tankers, and 10 commercial vessels attempting to traverse the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian authorities defended the action as legitimate defense against American attacks on commercial shipping.

The US attacks against Iranian commercial vessels constitute an obvious threat to regional and international peace and security.

Maritime security agency UKMTO reported multiple vessels catching fire across the northern Gulf and the Gulf of Oman following the engagement. In one documented incident 24 nautical miles off Port Rashid in the United Arab Emirates, an anchored vessel took on water and listed after being hit by an unidentified projectile. The exchanges resulted in at least one sailor killed and another missing. In southern Iran, state television reported an unexplained explosion near the strait on Wednesday evening.

Regional targets and operational perimeter

Beyond naval engagements in the Gulf, Iran launched ballistic missiles targeting the Al-Azraq military base in Jordan, a site utilized by American forces. The Iranian military detailed the intended facilities struck during the barrage.

As part of the operation to punish the aggressor, maintenance and repair facilities, preparation and deployment areas for F-35, F-15, and F-16 aircraft, as well as fighter hangars, were hit.

The Revolutionary Guard warned that any further American action would result in 20 targets being struck for every two or three US strikes. Tehran had announced on 6 September that it would enforce an expanded prohibited zone within days. Iranian military officials clarified on 9 September that this restricted perimeter will encompass sectors of the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, requiring all vessels to obtain transit clearance or face penalties. Meanwhile, the US military maintained a blockade on Iranian ports in the Gulf.

Surge in global oil benchmarks

Energy markets responded immediately to the disruption of transit routes through the Strait of Hormuz, an artery de facto closed by Iran following the outbreak of hostilities on 28 February 2026. Brent crude climbed 3.4% to reach $101.21 per barrel on 9 September, crossing the $100 threshold for the first time since 24 July. West Texas Intermediate rose 3.25% to $96.05 per barrel.

The escalation follows renewed hostilities between Saudi Arabia and Houthi forces in Yemen targeting energy infrastructure, adding further strain to Middle Eastern export routes. Donald Trump commented that the war would conclude following the US midterm elections, while Iranian officials maintained that hostilities will end only when Washington concedes to key Iranian demands.