Brent crude breaks $100 as US strikes five more Iranian tankers and Hormuz traffic falls to six vessels
Oil prices crossed the $100 threshold for the first time since July as tanker strikes intensified and the Strait of Hormuz effectively froze, with only six commodity vessels transiting on Tuesday.
Quick summary
US forces destroyed five Iranian crude oil tankers on Tuesday after Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps attempted to strike a US Navy warship with ballistic missiles twice over the previous two days, according to US Central Command. CENTCOM named the targeted vessels as Kaviz, Charminar, Horizon 1, Riesco and Derya, struck in the Gulf of Oman and near Kharg Island, and said crews were directed to abandon ship before the strikes. Brent crude settled above $100 per barrel on Tuesday as the Middle East conflict escalated, and only six commodity vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz, down from nine on Monday and far below normal flows. CENTCOM said it has now destroyed 10 Iranian tankers since September 5, describing them as part of a multibillion-dollar "shadow network" funding the IRGC, and emphasized that no US Navy warship had been struck by Iranian missile attempts.
Key points
- US Central Command struck five Iranian oil tankers on Tuesday—Kaviz, Charminar, Horizon 1, Riesco and Derya—after the IRGC twice attempted ballistic missile attacks on a US warship over two days
- CENTCOM said no US warship has been hit and called Iranian claims of strikes 'completely FALSE'
- Ten Iranian tankers have been destroyed by US forces since September 5, described as part of an IRGC shadow network
- Brent crude settled above $100 per barrel on Tuesday, breaching the threshold for the first time since July 24
- Only six commodity vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, down from nine on Monday and well below normal averages
- Iran's Revolutionary Guards claimed to have attacked 20 US vessels attempting to transit Hormuz and struck a US base in Jordan
How it unfolded
- New
War begins
The US and Israel launch Operation Epic Fury. Ali Khamenei is killed in the opening strikes.
- Changed
Ceasefire reached, then collapses
The first attempt to halt the fighting does not hold.
- Changed
Second attempt fails
A new memorandum of understanding fails to produce a lasting halt to the conflict.
- New
Operation Economic Outcast
Washington targets more than 60 Iran-linked entities with new sanctions.
- New
Hormuz corridor proposed
Iran and Oman propose a temporary shipping corridor through the strait, as Qatar also pursues mediation.
- ChangedContested
Strait declared cleared
CENTCOM announces that Iranian-placed mines have been cleared from the Strait of Hormuz.
- New
US strike on Larak Island
US forces strike two IRGC rocket-launcher positions, saying they posed an imminent threat to shipping.
- New
Iran responds
The IRGC confirms casualties, condemns the attack and promises retaliation.
- NewContested
New escalation
Iran launches retaliatory missiles and drones toward US bases in Jordan and the UAE. Jordan reports intercepting eight missiles.
- New
Economic impact
Brent crude rises above $90 as markets react to renewed escalation.
- New
Iran appeals for interim deal compliance
Iran urges the US to comply with what it describes as an interim deal, while Trump threatens further strikes.
- New
US launches new strikes near Hormuz
The United States launches a new barrage of airstrikes on Iranian targets around the Strait of Hormuz.
- New
Brent crude hits intraday high near $99
Brent surged to about $99.38 per barrel before settling in the $95–$97 range as markets priced in heightened supply risk.
- New
Iran strikes Kuwait
Iran launched missiles and drones at Kuwait, expanding Operation Punishment of the Aggressor.
- New
US carries out second round of strikes
The United States hit Iranian radar, missile and mine-laying infrastructure in a second wave in three days.
- New
Hormuz transits fall to single digits
Tanker flows through the strait dropped to as few as six vessels on recent days, versus a rolling average near 13.
- New
U.S. strikes Iranian tankers off Kharg Island
U.S. forces struck three Iranian oil tankers off Kharg Island in response to earlier Revolutionary Guard attacks on U.S. warships.
- New
Iran attacks tankers for using unauthorized route
Iran said its forces targeted three oil tankers using an unauthorized route in the Strait of Hormuz, as well as three U.S.-linked vessels elsewhere.
- New
Hormuz traffic collapses to 10-day average of 10 vessels
Commodity vessel transits averaged 10 per day over 10 days, the lowest since May. Only two transited on Saturday and six on Sunday.
- New
No VLCC has exited Hormuz since Wednesday
No very large crude carrier has left the strait since Wednesday, reflecting intensified security risks.
- New
Brent touches six-week high near $98
Brent crude settled around $97.31 after an intraday high of about $98.06. Brent rose roughly 8% over the prior week and WTI nearly 10%.
- New
U.S. destroys five Iranian oil tankers
U.S. forces struck five Iranian crude oil tankers near Kharg Island and Jask after IRGC ballistic-missile attacks on two U.S. warships. Named vessels include M/T Downy and M/T Stark 1 (permanently disabled) and M/T Kylo (completely destroyed).
- New
Iran retaliates, warns ships using unauthorized Hormuz route
Iran's IRGC said it targeted three tankers using an unauthorized route through Hormuz and three U.S.-linked vessels elsewhere, warning other vessels they will be targeted if they follow the same route.
- New
Hormuz traffic falls to seven vessels Monday
Only seven commodity vessels transited the strait on Monday, compared with eight on Sunday, sustaining the near-freeze in tanker flows.
- New
Brent touches $99.46, highest since July 24
Brent crude briefly reached $99.46 per barrel on Tuesday as tanker strikes and Hormuz transit risks intensified.
- New
U.S. strikes five more Iranian tankers
US forces destroyed five Iranian crude oil tankers—Kaviz, Charminar, Horizon 1, Riesco and Derya—in the Gulf of Oman and near Kharg Island after the IRGC twice attempted ballistic missile attacks on a US Navy warship over the previous two days. CENTCOM said crews were directed to abandon ship before the strikes.
- New
CENTCOM confirms no US warship hit
US Central Command emphasized that no US Navy warship had been struck by Iranian missile attempts, calling Iranian claims of hits 'completely FALSE' and saying all attempted attacks failed.
- New
Ten Iranian tankers destroyed since Sept. 5
CENTCOM said US forces have now destroyed 10 Iranian tankers since September 5, describing them as part of a multibillion-dollar 'shadow network' used to fund the IRGC.
- New
Brent crude settles above $100
Brent crude settled above $100 per barrel on Tuesday, crossing the threshold for the first time since July 24 as the Middle East conflict escalated.
- New
Hormuz traffic drops to six vessels
Only six commodity vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, down from nine on Monday and well below normal averages, according to Kpler data.
- NewContested
Iran claims attack on 20 US vessels, Jordan base
Iran's Revolutionary Guards claimed to have attacked 20 US vessels attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz and struck a US base in Jordan in response to US tanker strikes. CENTCOM disputes Iranian claims of successful hits on US vessels.
Claim tracker
6 confirmed · 2 contested · 1 unverified
- Confirmed
US forces destroyed five Iranian crude oil tankers on September 8/9 after IRGC ballistic missile attacks on US warships
Multiple outlets confirm US strikes on five tankers in response to attempted missile attacks. CENTCOM named the vessels as Kaviz, Charminar, Horizon 1, Riesco and Derya.
13 agreeing - Confirmed
The targeted tankers were struck in the Gulf of Oman and near Kharg Island
CENTCOM and Iranian state media both report strikes in these locations.
10 agreeing - Confirmed
Crews were directed to abandon ship before the tankers were struck
CENTCOM statements and multiple outlets confirm crews were ordered to evacuate.
7 agreeing - Confirmed
US forces have destroyed 10 Iranian tankers since September 5
CENTCOM confirmed this total, describing the vessels as part of an IRGC shadow network.
3 agreeing - Confirmed
Brent crude settled above $100 per barrel on Tuesday
Multiple outlets including Reuters confirm Brent crossed the $100 threshold.
4 agreeing - Confirmed
Only six commodity vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday
Kpler data cited by Reuters, The New Arab and Al-Monitor confirm six vessels on Tuesday, down from nine Monday.
3 agreeing - Contested
No US Navy warship was struck by Iranian missile attempts
CENTCOM called Iranian claims of hits 'completely FALSE,' but Iran's Revolutionary Guards claim to have attacked US vessels.
2 agreeing · 1 conflicting - Contested
Iran's Revolutionary Guards attacked 20 US vessels attempting to transit Hormuz
Iranian claims, but CENTCOM says all attempted Iranian attacks failed and no US vessel was struck.
2 agreeing · 1 conflicting - Unverified
Iran struck a US base in Jordan in response to US tanker strikes
Reported by BSS citing Revolutionary Guards and by Fox News, but no independent confirmation or detail on casualties or damage.
2 agreeing
What we still don't know
- What were the casualties or damage from Iran's claimed attack on the US base in Jordan?
- How many Iranian ballistic missiles were launched in the two attempted attacks on the US warship, and how were they evaded or intercepted?
- What is Iran's definition of the 'unauthorized route' through the Strait of Hormuz that it says justifies targeting vessels?
- How sustainable is the current level of Hormuz traffic (six vessels per day) for global oil supply?
- What is the total tonnage of Iranian crude capacity destroyed since September 5?
US–Israel war with Iran
- US strike on Larak Island triggers Iranian retaliation
- Trump threatens further strikes as Iran appeals for compliance with interim deal
- US launches new strikes around Strait of Hormuz; Iran expands retaliation beyond Jordan
- Brent crude hits intraday high near $99, settles around $96–$97 as Iran strikes expand to Kuwait
- Hormuz shipping collapses to lowest since May as US, Iran engage in tanker war
- US destroys five Iranian oil tankers after IRGC missile attack on warships
- Brent crude surges to $105.26 as Iran claims attack on 10 vessels near Hormuz
- Hormuz shipping traffic collapses to seven vessels as oil prices hold above $100
- Brent crude breaks $108 as new strikes hit Iranian ship and Saudi pipeline
- Hormuz traffic collapses to four vessels as Brent holds above $107
- Brent jumps to $108–$109 as Saudi East–West pipeline shut down
- Brent retreats below $105 as Aramco targets partial pipeline restart within days
- Saudi Aramco suspends crude deliveries to India as pipeline repairs begin
Sources analysed
8 outlets in the analysed roster.
- Al Jazeera — US strikes 5 Iranian oil tankers; Tehran targets Jordan base, US warships
- ARN News Centre — US hits five Iranian oil tankers after attack on Navy ships
- Fox News — Iran attacks US forces in Jordan as Strait of Hormuz tensions escalate
- The Deep Draft — Hormuz UUV Seizure Meets Tanker-Strike Cycle: IRGC ...
- The Independent — Iran-US war latest: Tehran hikes gasoline prices for heavy ...
- Institute for the Study of War (ISW) — Iran Update, September 9, 2026 | ISW
- Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) — Iran, US trade blows as Hormuz impasse deepens | International
- Reuters — Brent settles at over $100 a barrel as Middle East conflict intensifies