Reported by:
Cherry Meigh Timbol
News Content Editor
Published September 9, 2026
The United States has dramatically escalated its campaign against Iran’s oil network after U.S. Central Command said American forces destroyed five Iranian crude oil carriers on September 8, following two attempted ballistic-missile attacks by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) against a U.S. Navy warship.
The strikes occurred as Washington and Tehran continued a dangerous cycle of military retaliation that has increasingly centered on the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy corridors.
According to Reuters, CENTCOM said the U.S. warship successfully evaded both Iranian attacks and that no American personnel were injured. U.S. forces subsequently struck five crude carriers.
The Gateway Pundit first reported the strikes Tuesday evening, citing the CENTCOM statement and identifying the vessels as the M/T Kaviz, M/T Charminar, M/T Horizon 1, M/T Riesco and M/T Derya.
Five Tankers Targeted
CENTCOM said four of the vessels—the Kaviz, Charminar, Horizon 1 and Riesco—were destroyed in the Gulf of Oman. The fifth, the Derya, was struck near Iran’s Kharg Island, a major oil-export hub.
U.S. forces reportedly directed the crews to abandon the vessels before the strikes.
The Pentagon’s account characterized the ships as part of an Iranian oil network that allegedly generates billions of dollars for the IRGC and its regional proxies.
The operation followed an earlier U.S. attack on three Iranian crude carriers on September 5 after Iranian forces attempted to attack a U.S. aircraft carrier and guided-missile destroyer.
That means eight Iranian oil carriers have now been reported destroyed by U.S. forces in a matter of days.
Iran’s Missile Attacks Triggered the Latest Strikes
The immediate trigger for the September 8 operation was Iran’s attempt to strike an American warship with ballistic missiles on two occasions over two days.
According to CENTCOM’s account, both attacks failed.
The U.S. warship remained operational and continued patrolling regional waters. No American personnel were harmed.
Washington subsequently responded by targeting vessels it says are connected to Iran’s oil-financing apparatus.
The escalation demonstrates how the conflict has moved beyond traditional attacks on military bases and into the energy and maritime sectors.
Iran Warns of Further Retaliation
Iran has threatened additional attacks if Washington continues targeting its oil vessels.
The confrontation escalated further after the tanker strikes, with Iranian state media reporting missile attacks against a U.S. military facility near Al Azraq in Jordan. The Associated Press reported that CENTCOM did not immediately provide information confirming the Iranian claims.
The National also reported that Iran’s retaliation came shortly after the American tanker strikes and quoted Secretary of State Marco Rubio warning that Iranian attempts to attack U.S. naval vessels would result in further losses of Iranian tankers.
The danger is that attacks on shipping could quickly expand the conflict beyond U.S. and Iranian military targets.
Strait of Hormuz Becomes the Critical Flashpoint
The latest confrontation is particularly significant because it is unfolding around the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil previously passed.
The Associated Press reported that both Washington and Tehran are seeking to exert control over the strategic waterway. The U.S. blockade of Iranian ports has already restricted Tehran’s ability to export oil, while American forces have been assisting selected commercial vessels transiting the region.
The possibility of a prolonged disruption has already shaken energy markets.
Brent crude climbed above $100 a barrel on September 9, the first time it had crossed that threshold since July, according to the Financial Times. The newspaper linked the increase to escalating U.S.-Iran fighting and growing concerns over the security of the Strait of Hormuz.
The National similarly reported that Brent moved above $100 amid the latest attacks involving Iranian tankers and regional energy infrastructure.
Oil Markets Feel the Pressure
The destruction of five tankers adds another layer of uncertainty to an already fragile global energy market.
Iran’s ability to export crude has been increasingly constrained by the U.S. campaign. At the same time, attacks or threats against commercial shipping can raise insurance costs, force vessels to reroute and reduce the amount of oil reaching international markets.
The result could be higher prices for crude, gasoline and other petroleum products.
The Associated Press reported that Brent briefly reached approximately $99.46 per barrel on Tuesday as the conflict intensified.
By Wednesday, Brent had moved above $100.
That makes the maritime confrontation not only a military issue but also an economic one for consumers worldwide.
The Military Pressure Is Also Growing
The latest strikes come as Washington increases military pressure on Tehran.
Air & Space Forces Magazine reported September 8 that the United States had destroyed five Iranian oil tankers while additional fighter aircraft were being ordered into the Middle East.
The publication also reported earlier U.S. strikes against Iranian oil carriers, illustrating how the campaign has expanded from defensive operations toward direct attacks on infrastructure supporting Iran’s war effort.
The United States appears to be pursuing a combination of military pressure and economic strangulation, targeting both Iran’s ability to attack American forces and its ability to finance those operations.
🧩 Bottom Line:
The destruction of five Iranian oil carriers represents a major escalation in the U.S.-Iran confrontation.
This is no longer simply a series of military exchanges between American and Iranian forces. Oil, shipping and the Strait of Hormuz have become central components of the conflict.
Washington is attempting to make the cost of attacking U.S. forces increasingly painful for Tehran by striking the economic infrastructure that helps finance the IRGC. Iran, meanwhile, faces a difficult choice: back down and risk losing more of its oil-export capacity, or retaliate and potentially trigger even more devastating American strikes.
The biggest concern for the rest of the world is that the confrontation could eventually threaten the free movement of commercial shipping through Hormuz.
With Brent crude already breaking above $100, the economic consequences are beginning to appear.
What happens next may determine not only the trajectory of the U.S.-Iran war, but also the price of energy around the world.
SOURCES: THE GATEWAY PUNDIT – US Military Destroys Five Iranian Crude Oil Carriers After Iran Fires Ballistic Missiles at US Navy Warship (VIDEO)
REUTERS – US military says it destroyed five Iranian oil carriers after attempted missile attacks
AP NEWS – The Latest: US destroys 5 Iranian crude oil tankers following attacks on US warship
THE NATIONAL – Tehran retaliates with strikes on Jordan after US destroys five Iranian oil tankers
