US strikes three Iranian oil tankers as US-Iran maritime conflict escalates

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy targeted three oil tankers and three vessels linked to the United States in the Strait of Hormuz on September 6, accusing them of navigating unauthorized routes through the waterway.

The strait ordinarily handles roughly 20% of all global oil and gas shipments. At its narrowest point, it’s about 21 miles wide, with shipping lanes in each direction that are only two miles across. Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, the UAE, and Qatar all depend on it to get their crude to market.

Tit-for-tat on the water

The IRGC framed its actions as retaliation. US forces had previously struck three Iranian oil tankers, one of which reportedly sank in the Gulf of Oman after IRGC forces launched missiles at US Navy warships. US Central Command confirmed its airstrikes against Iranian vessels, placing the strikes within the broader context of ongoing bilateral tensions.

Iran’s spokesman Ebrahim Zolfaghari went further, threatening additional strikes on US vessels if what Tehran describes as a blockade of Iranian shipping continues.

The strait typically sees around 130 vessels pass through daily. Current traffic has fallen dramatically below that average, a direct consequence of the series of maritime strikes that have rattled the shipping industry.

The IRGC has also issued broader warnings against any vessels using what it considers unauthorized waterways through the strait.

Why 20% of global oil matters

When traffic through the strait drops, the math is brutal and immediate. Less supply with steady or growing demand means higher prices. Brent crude, the global benchmark, is particularly sensitive to disruptions in this region because so much of the oil that flows through Hormuz ends up priced against it.

Oil transportation costs are already climbing as insurers reassess the risk of sending vessels through the region. War-risk premiums for tankers transiting the Persian Gulf have surged, and some shipping companies have begun avoiding the strait entirely.

The broader strategic picture

Iran views control over the strait as its most powerful strategic lever. Its military can’t match the US Navy ship for ship, but it doesn’t need to. Simply making the strait dangerous enough to deter commercial traffic accomplishes much of the same strategic objective.

For the US, keeping the strait open has been a cornerstone of American naval doctrine since the 1980s.

Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.