Wednesday, September 9, 2026 - The six-month-old US-Iran war has entered a dangerous new phase after Washington destroyed five Iranian oil tankers and Tehran said it attacked 10 ships near the Strait of Hormuz.
The United States said its strikes followed Iranian attempts to hit a US Navy warship with ballistic missiles. Iran has also fired missiles toward a base used by US forces in Jordan, marking one of the most serious escalations since the conflict began.
The growing tanker attacks are putting global shipping and energy markets under immediate pressure. At least one seafarer has been reported killed and another is missing, while oil prices surged as Brent crude moved above $100 a barrel for the first time since July.
The Strait of Hormuz is now at the centre of the confrontation, with both sides seeking to exert control over a waterway critical to international energy supplies.
The economic consequences could widen quickly if attacks continue. Higher oil prices threaten to push up transport, fuel and production costs worldwide, while reduced shipping through the Gulf could intensify supply concerns.
With Washington and Tehran trading increasingly direct attacks on maritime assets, pressure is mounting for diplomacy to prevent the conflict from developing into a broader regional and global economic crisis.
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