TEHRAN, Iran: Iran US tanker attacks escalated Wednesday as Tehran said it struck 10 ships near the Strait of Hormuz after Washington said it destroyed five Iranian oil tankers.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said its targets included two U.S. vessels and eight oil tankers. U.S. Central Command said its strikes followed Iranian ballistic missile attempts against a U.S. Navy warship.
Washington said the attacks harmed no American personnel. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States would continue targeting Iranian tankers when Iranian forces threatened U.S. naval vessels.
Peninsula, the vessel charterer, said an attack killed one seafarer aboard the oil products tanker Hercules Star off Dubai, while another crew member remained missing. Maritime security sources said a drone may have hit the tanker.
Iran has targeted two U.S. warships and 18 other vessels from the Strait of Hormuz across the Persian Gulf.
Iran also claims a significant number of oil tankers have been put out of action. pic.twitter.com/INL4G1b0jj
— Ebrahim Zolfaghari (@IranTimes01) September 9, 2026Read: Iran-US Tensions Rise as Tehran Warns of Heavier Retaliation
Two Iraqi port officials said the New Andros, carrying 2 million barrels of fuel oil, caught fire after a drone strike in Iraqi waters. They reported no casualties among its 22 crew members.
The IRGC also said it fired ballistic missiles at a base used by U.S. forces near Al Azraq, Jordan. Jordan said it intercepted 18 of 20 missiles, while a U.S. official said authorities had accounted for all American personnel.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged all sides to exercise restraint around the Strait of Hormuz.
Read: Oil prices rise as Brent hits $97.34 on Iran tensions
Rystad Energy chief economist Claudio Galimberti said oil flows through the strait had fallen to about 2 million barrels per day. That compares with 8 million to 9 million bpd before fighting resumed on August 30.
