World
US, Iran Trade Strikes on Oil Tankers as Crude Prices Surge to $100 a Barrel
Tensions between the United States and Iran escalated on September 9, 2026, after military forces from both countries exchanged attacks targeting oil tankers in the Gulf region, sending crude oil futures soaring to $100 a barrel.
According to reports, the US military said it destroyed five Iranian crude oil carriers in response to ballistic missile attacks launched by Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) against a US Navy warship.
In retaliation, the IRGC claimed its forces had targeted two American vessels and eight oil tankers. The Iranian force also said it struck ten additional vessels it described as "violating ships," accusing them of attempting to pass through a zone in the Strait of Hormuz that Iran considers "prohibited and unsafe."
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed the escalation, warning that Iran would continue to lose tankers each time it attempted to strike US Navy ships.
The Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments, has become the center of the confrontation, with the exchange of attacks raising concerns over the safety of maritime traffic and contributing to the sharp rise in oil prices.