A new round of military exchanges between the United States and Iran has raised fears of a wider regional conflict after Washington targeted Iranian oil tankers and Tehran launched missiles towards an American military base in Jordan.
The US Central Command said American forces attacked five Iranian tankers on Tuesday, with one of the vessels later sinking.
Four of the tankers were reportedly targeted in the Gulf of Oman, with Centcom saying they were connected to a network associated with Iran’s Revolutionary Guards. Another tanker was attacked near Kharg Island, the country’s major oil export hub.
The US military said the strikes were carried out after Iranian forces twice targeted an American warship using ballistic missiles.
Centcom said the attacks on the US vessel were successfully evaded and that no American troops were injured.
Iran responded by firing missiles towards a US base in Jordan. Jordan’s Armed Forces said its military intercepted 18 of the 20 missiles, while two landed in areas without residents.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards subsequently claimed responsibility for attacks involving US vessels and commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
According to Iranian state media, the Guards said two US vessels, eight oil tankers and 10 other vessels described as “non-compliant” had been targeted.
The competing claims come amid a rapidly worsening confrontation between Washington and Tehran.
The latest escalation follows the US and Israel’s February 28 attacks on Iran and comes after months of heightened tensions between the two sides.
The consequences are already being felt in energy markets.
Brent crude climbed 1.5% to $99.35 a barrel during Asian trading, while US oil rose 1.3% to $94.23.
Washington has defended its tanker strikes by alleging that the vessels formed part of a multibillion-dollar shadow network supporting the IRGC and its regional proxies.
Centcom also released footage showing the M/T Riesco after it was struck. The vessel subsequently sank in the Gulf of Oman.
The attack near Kharg Island is particularly significant because the location is central to Iran’s oil export infrastructure. Around 90% of Iran’s crude exports reportedly pass through the island after oil is transported from the mainland.
The regional situation has been further complicated by attacks attributed to Iran-backed groups.
Saudi Arabia said Yemen’s Houthi movement launched drones and missiles against energy facilities and civilian infrastructure on Tuesday, injuring 73 people. Saudi officials said the attacks also caused fires and temporarily disrupted operations at affected energy installations.
The expanding attacks have increased concerns about the security of major shipping routes and energy infrastructure across the Middle East.
Any prolonged disruption around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes, could place additional upward pressure on global crude prices and deepen the economic consequences of the conflict.
