4 hrs ago
Iran-US Maritime Strikes Send Oil Prices Above $100
Iran and the United States attacked ships and military targets during an ongoing war.
Iran said it struck 10 ships near the Strait of Hormuz.
The United States said it sank five Iranian oil tankers after attacks on American warships.
These actions made it harder for ships to travel through the strait.
The strait normally carries a large share of the world's oil.
Oil prices rose above $100 per barrel.
Iran also fired missiles toward a base used by American forces in Jordan.
Jordan said most of the missiles were stopped and that nobody was hurt.
Fighting between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis in Yemen added another danger for energy supplies.
Iran said it attacked 10 ships near the Strait of Hormuz after the United States sank five Iranian oil tankers.
Brent crude prices surpassed $100 a barrel, while average US diesel prices exceeded $5.94 per gallon.
Iran reported firing ballistic missiles at a base used by US forces in Jordan; Jordan said 18 of 20 missiles were intercepted.
Maritime authorities reported several merchant ships hit around the Gulf, including a tanker carrying two million barrels of fuel oil.
Fighting also intensified between Saudi Arabia and the Houthi movement, adding further risks to Middle Eastern energy supplies.
- Who
- Iran, the United States, Saudi Arabia, the Houthi movement, Jordan, and commercial shipping operators were involved or affected.
- What
- Iran and the United States exchanged attacks on ships and military targets, while oil prices rose and regional fighting intensified.
- Where
- The main incidents occurred around the Strait of Hormuz, the Gulf, the Gulf of Oman, Jordan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen.
- When
- The latest attacks occurred on Wednesday, following escalations since the end of August during a six-month-old war.
- Why
- The United States said its tanker attacks responded to Iranian missile attacks on US warships; Iran said it was retaliating against US strikes and restricting access to waters it declared off-limits.
Iran's claims
US and regional authorities' claims
Responsibility for tanker attacks
Iran's claims
Iran described its attacks on ships as a response to US strikes against Iranian tankers and said it was using more capable missiles against US vessels.
US and regional authorities' claims
The United States said it destroyed Iranian tankers in response to Iranian Revolutionary Guard attacks on US naval ships, including two ballistic-missile attacks.
Missile strike in Jordan
Iran's claims
Iran said its missiles inflicted heavy damage on a base used by US forces near Al Azraq in eastern Jordan.
US and regional authorities' claims
Jordan said it intercepted 18 of 20 missiles, with the remaining two landing in unpopulated areas; a US official said the attack was ineffective and all American troops were accounted for.
Regional Saudi-Yemen fighting
Iran's claims
The Houthis said Saudi airstrikes killed dozens of people after Houthi attacks on Saudi cities.
US and regional authorities' claims
Saudi Arabia reported that Houthi attacks wounded 73 people and caused major fires at oil installations; it did not confirm the reported Houthi death toll or acknowledge the retaliatory strikes described by a Pakistani source.
Key facts
- Oil price
- Brent crude rose above $100 per barrel, its first time above that level since July.
- US diesel price
- The average US retail diesel price exceeded $5.94 per gallon, a new reported record.
- Reported tanker losses
- The United States said it destroyed five Iranian oil tankers overnight.
- Reported Iranian ship attacks
- Iran said it attacked 10 ships near the Strait of Hormuz.
- Jordan missile interception
- Jordan said its air defenses intercepted 18 of 20 Iranian missiles.
- New Andros
- The tanker New Andros, carrying two million barrels of fuel oil, reportedly caught fire after a drone strike in Iraqi waters; its 22 crew members were not reported injured.
- Hormuz transit
- Preliminary data showed six ships crossing the strait with transponders on during the previous 24 hours.
Quotes
Marco Rubio
US Secretary of State commenting on the American tanker attacks
“Iran continues to try to hit US naval ships, and for every time they do that or try to do that, they're going to lose tankers”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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