US Strikes Five Iranian Oil Tankers, Iran Hits US Base in Jordan

US forces struck five Iranian oil tankers on Tuesday, sinking one, after Iran twice unsuccessfully targeted an American warship with ballistic missiles, US Central Command (Centcom) said. Four tankers in the Gulf of Oman linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) were hit, along with one vessel near Kharg Island — Iran's main oil-export terminal through which roughly 90% of its crude passes.

Iran's Retaliation

Tehran answered by launching 20 missiles at a US base in Jordan; 18 were intercepted by Jordanian air defenses. The Revolutionary Guards then claimed they attacked two US vessels, eight oil tankers, and ten non-compliant ships attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz.

The vessel sunk by US forces, the M/T Riesco, was described by Centcom as part of a multi-billion-dollar shadow network that funds the IRGC and its regional proxy forces. Footage posted on social media showed the damaged ship taking on water.

Oil Prices Jump

The tit-for-tat escalation sent oil prices higher. Benchmark Brent crude rose 1.5% to $99.35 a barrel, while US-traded WTI climbed 1.3% to $94.23. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio framed the US stance plainly: Iran continues to try to hit US naval ships. And, for every time they do that, they are going to lose tankers.

Wider Regional Fallout

On the same day, Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi movement struck energy facilities and civilian infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, injuring 73 people and causing fires that temporarily halted operations at oil installations. Iran's navy also claimed to have seized an uncrewed US submarine in the Strait of Hormuz. The latest escalation comes more than six months after the US and Israel launched military operations against Iran on 28 February.