Iran and US hit tankers in biggest wave of attacks on shipping since war began

CAIRO/WASHINGTON/DUBAI — Iran announced on Wednesday that it had carried out 10 attacks on ships near the Strait of Hormuz following the United States' sinking of five Iranian oil tankers. This marked the largest declared series of tit-for-tat assaults on shipping by both parties since the six-month-long conflict began. The aggression caused oil prices to soar, with benchmark Brent crude futures surpassing $100 a barrel for the first time since July.

At least one sailor was confirmed dead, while another was reported missing. Iran also claimed to have launched ballistic missiles at a base utilized by U.S. forces in Jordan. Since the end of August, escalated hostilities have shattered a period of relative peace, with both the U.S. and Iran striking military, shipping, and energy facilities.

The Revolutionary Guards threatened to significantly intensify their retaliation, targeting 20 points if the adversary launched two or three attacks. Iran reportedly intends to disclose maps of an enlarged, restricted sea zone, extending to Chabahar on the remote southwestern coast near Pakistan, according to the Guards. Recent days have also witnessed an intensification in hostilities.