U.S. Military Destroys Five Iranian Oil Tankers as Retaliation and Counter-Retaliation Push Middle East Tensions to a Boil
- Input
- 2026-09-09 08:31:51
- Updated
- 2026-09-09 08:31:51
[Financial News] The U.S. military destroyed five Iranian oil tankers in retaliation for Iran’s recent ballistic-missile launch targeting U.S. warships. As the cycle of retaliation between the two sides continues, international oil prices have surged and military tensions in the Middle East have reached an extreme level.
On September 8 local time, United States Central Command (CENTCOM) announced in a statement, "In response to Iran’s attempted attack, the U.S. military evacuated the crews before striking five oil tankers and rendering them inoperable." The U.S. military reportedly targeted areas near the strategically important Kharg Island and the port of Jask.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirmed the administration’s tough response, saying, "Every time Iran tries to strike a U.S. naval vessel, it will lose an oil tanker."
In response, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned that it would also strike tankers berthed at ports in Kuwait and Bahrain, both U.S. allies. According to the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), the IRGC foreshadowed further attacks, saying, "All tanker crews at the ports of Kuwait and Bahrain must evacuate immediately."
The incident has sent international energy markets into turmoil. Brent crude surged to around $98 a barrel after reports said explosions were heard near Kharg Island, which handles approximately 90% of Iran’s crude oil exports.
The United States initially said last month that it would reduce military attacks against Iran and focus on economic pressure. However, amid a series of stalemates, military clashes appear to be escalating again. The U.S. Department of the Treasury also imposed additional sanctions that day on dozens of companies supporting Iran’s aviation sector.
Meanwhile, Iran is negotiating with Oman to resume transit through the Strait of Hormuz. However, tensions with the United States and its allies continue to mount as Iran seeks to impose transit fees.
[email protected] Yoon Jae-jun Reporter