US forces strike Iranian oil tankers, official says

On Tuesday, a US official disclosed that American forces had targeted several Iranian tankers associated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The strikes were reportedly in response to recent attempted missile attacks on a US Navy warship. Following the strikes, the Iranian news agency Mehr reported that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had warned tanker crews in Kuwaiti and Bahraini ports to leave their vessels, as they would be targeted.

This event follows a series of strikes that seemed to be easing tensions between the US and Iran, which had resumed in late August. A ceasefire between the two nations collapsed in July, months after it was established in April; however, both sides had previously maintained restraint. Diplomacy had initially stalled, but negotiations had aimed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran had closed at the beginning of the conflict.

In August, the US carried out strikes on Iranian targets, accusing Iran of attempting to place mines in the strait and attacking shipping. Iran responded with ballistic missile strikes on US military bases, including one in Jordan. Iran has threatened to target US energy interests in the Gulf if strikes on Iranian territory persist.

Oil prices, which had been rising due to the ongoing series of strikes, approached $100 a barrel, with Brent crude surpassing $99.