Tehran: Iran announced on Wednesday that it had targeted 10 ships near the Strait of Hormuz following the United States' sinking of five Iranian oil tankers, marking the most significant series of reciprocal maritime attacks since the onset of the six-month conflict. According to France24.com, these aggressive actions have led to a dramatic spike in oil prices, with Brent crude futures surpassing $100 a barrel for the first time since July. The situation has resulted in casualties, with one seafarer confirmed dead and another missing from a tanker incident. Iran further escalated tensions by launching ballistic missiles at a US military base in Jordan. The recent hostilities have shattered a brief period of calm, with both nations targeting military, maritime, and energy infrastructures. The Revolutionary Guards have warned of a coordinated escalation, threatening to target 20 sites in retaliation for any further US strikes. They plan to declare a new maritime exclusion zone extending to Chabahar near Pakis tan. The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged all parties to practice restraint to prevent further escalation in the already tense Strait of Hormuz region. Meanwhile, the conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis in Yemen has intensified, posing additional threats to global energy supplies. The US military has released footage of the Iranian tankers destroyed in their latest offensive. US Central Command described these actions as retaliation against recent missile attacks by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on a US Navy vessel. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the US's new strategy of targeting Iranian tankers in response to any threats against American naval ships, stating Iran would face similar losses for every attack attempted. Iran responded by striking two US ships and eight additional tankers. The Hercules Star, a tanker anchored off Dubai, suffered casualties, with one crew member killed and another missing, likely due to a drone strike. Maritime security reports ind icate several ships have been disabled by attacks in the northern Gulf and Gulf of Oman. Further, two Iraqi port officials reported a tanker, the New Andros, was set ablaze by a drone strike in Iraqi waters, though no crew casualties were reported. Iran has also threatened vessels in Kuwaiti and Bahraini ports, with reports of damage to a liquefied natural gas tanker in Khor Fakkan. In Jordan, Iran's missile attack on a US base was largely intercepted, with minimal damage reported. Meanwhile, an explosion was heard near the Iranian port city of Jask, though details remain unclear. The Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil transit route, has seen diminished activity due to resumed hostilities, with crude flow plunging to 2 million barrels per day from the pre-conflict levels of 8 to 9 million. This has led to skyrocketing fuel prices, with US diesel reaching record highs. Simultaneously, Saudi Arabia has faced increased aggression from the Houthi movement, with recent attacks causing significant fires at Saudi oil facilities and resulting in numerous injuries. The Saudi-backed Yemeni government has responded with military operations against Houthi-controlled areas, further complicating regional stability and energy security.
