By Riffat Kausar
Snn News Finland
The United States has carried out strikes on multiple Iranian oil tankers near Kharg Island in the Strait of Hormuz, days after Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps launched ballistic missiles at US Navy ships.
In a sharp escalation, Iran then fired missiles into Jordan, where air defences intercepted most of them, and global oil prices surged toward $100 a barrel.
The exchange marks one of the most dangerous naval confrontations since the US-led war on Iran began in February.
It also underlines how the conflict is spreading beyond Iran’s borders, drawing in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Yemen and the vital energy corridors that supply much of the world’s oil.
US says tanker strikes were retaliation for naval attacks
US Central Command said it struck three Iranian vessels, including one off Kharg Island, Iran’s main oil export hub, after the IRGC launched ballistic missiles at two US Navy destroyers.
“Let the message to the IRGC be clear: If you shoot at two of our ships, we will impose an even higher economic cost taking out three of yours,” said Admiral Brad Cooper, head of US Central Command.
Maritime intelligence firm Marisks identified the three Iranian tankers as Downy, Stark I and Kylo, also known as Noxen. Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that four US missiles hit a tanker near Kharg’s anchorage and said the crew was being evacuated. No casualties were reported.
The strikes fit into what the Trump administration has described as a strategy of “economic strangulation” against Iran, preferring pressure on Tehran’s oil exports rather than a full-scale ground war. But the president has warned that any attack on US or allied forces will draw a military response.
Jordan intercepts 18 Iranian missiles
Shortly after the tanker attacks, Iran fired a barrage of ballistic missiles at Jordan, a key US ally that has remained largely on the sidelines of the war.
Jordan’s Armed Forces said its air-defence systems engaged 20 missiles, successfully intercepting 18, while two fell in open areas. A military spokesperson said no one was killed and that the kingdom would continue to defend its territory.
Correspondents in eastern Jordan reported hearing additional interception sounds hours later, suggesting a second, smaller volley. The Iranian action raised alarm across the Gulf Cooperation Council, with officials warning that a new escalation could be worse than anything seen in the past six months.
Oil prices climb toward $100 a barrel
The violence pushed oil prices higher for a fourth straight session. Brent crude futures rose $1.57, or 1.6 percent, to $99.49 a barrel. US West Texas Intermediate crude went up $1.60, or 1.72 percent, to $94.63 a barrel. Brent has jumped by roughly a quarter since early August, when hopes for a permanent ceasefire faded.
Analysts say the Strait of Hormuz — through which one-fifth of the world’s oil once flowed is effectively disrupted, forcing Saudi Arabia to reroute crude through the Red Sea port of Yanbu. Attacks on Saudi facilities and shipping by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis have compounded the supply fears.
Key facts
- US Central Command struck three Iranian oil tankers near Kharg Island after IRGC missile attacks on US Navy ships.
- Jordan intercepted 18 of 20 Iranian ballistic missiles; no civilian casualties reported.
- Brent crude rose to $99.49 a barrel, up about 25 percent since early August.
- Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia wounded 73 people and caused fires at energy facilities.
- The Strait of Hormuz remains effectively disrupted, reshaping global oil shipments.
- Kharg Island
FAQs:
Why did the US attack Iranian tankers?
US officials said the strikes were retaliation after Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps fired ballistic missiles at two US Navy destroyers in the region.
What happened in Jordan?
Iran fired 20 ballistic missiles at Jordan; the kingdom’s air defences intercepted 18, and two landed in open ground without causing casualties.
How high have oil prices risen?
Brent crude reached $99.49 a barrel, its highest level in months, and has risen roughly 25 percent since early August.
Are Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia connected?
A: Yes. The Houthis, who are backed by Iran, have stepped up missile and drone strikes on Saudi oil and civilian sites since the US-Iran ceasefire collapsed in July.
Is there any diplomatic effort to calm the situation?
Qatar has reportedly begun fresh efforts to bring the parties to the negotiating table, possibly with Chinese support, but no concrete ceasefire framework has emerged.
Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia widen the conflict
On Tuesday, Houthi forces launched dozens of ballistic missiles and drones at civilian and energy sites in four south-western Saudi cities: Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan and Najran. Saudi authorities said 73 people, including women and children, were wounded and that fires at oil facilities forced a temporary halt to some operations.
The Saudi-led coalition said it would respond. A source familiar with Saudi thinking told CNN that Riyadh is planning retaliation and has informed US Kharg Island and European allies. The Houthis said the attacks were revenge for more than 120 Saudi airstrikes in Yemen over three days.
Verified by Scandinavian News Agency Finland.
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