Iran Hits 10 Ships and U.S. Base, Sending Brent Crude to $100
Updated
Updated · Foreign Policy · Sep 10
Iran Hits 10 Ships and U.S. Base, Sending Brent Crude to $100
3 articles · Updated · Foreign Policy · Sep 10
Summary
Iran said it struck 10 ships near the Strait of Hormuz — including 2 U.S. vessels and 8 oil carriers — and fired ballistic missiles at a U.S.-used base in Jordan, with one death reported on the Hercules Star.
The attacks came after U.S. forces said they destroyed 5 Iranian oil carriers on Tuesday in retaliation for failed IRGC missile attempts against a U.S. Navy warship.
U.S. officials said Iran has launched missiles at destroyers, an aircraft carrier and a Marine ship since Friday, though Centcom said all recent attacks on U.S. military vessels missed and Jordan said nearly all missiles at its base were intercepted.
Brent briefly topped $100 a barrel for the first time since July, WTI is up 41% since the war began, and diesel is nearing $6 a gallon despite White House claims that U.S. forces control the Strait of Hormuz.
With crude nearing $100, could this escalating tanker war permanently choke off the world's most vital energy artery?
As war-risk premiums skyrocket and ships go dark, who is secretly profiting from the maritime chaos in the Gulf?
Did Iran just capture classified 2025 underwater tech, or is the military hiding the truth about its sunken drone?
Strait of Hormuz Crisis: The 2026 U.S.-Iran War, Oil Blockade, and Global Economic Fallout
Overview
The report traces the escalation of the U.S.-Iran conflict from the initial U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran in February 2026, which led Iran to shut down the Strait of Hormuz and disrupt global shipping. In response, the U.S. imposed a naval blockade, causing Iranian oil exports and revenues to collapse and triggering a severe economic crisis in Iran. After failed diplomatic talks, tensions peaked on September 8, 2026, when the U.S. destroyed Iranian oil tankers following Iranian attacks on U.S. naval forces. Iran retaliated with missile strikes, while Houthi rebels attacked Saudi Arabia, driving oil prices near $100 a barrel and deepening global instability.