Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy claimed on 22 October 2026 that seven vessels, including oil tankers, were struck in the Persian Gulf. The IRGC stated that four tankers were hit during oil transfers in the northern Persian Gulf and that three additional vessels struck mines west of the Strait of Hormuz. The IRGC also issued a warning to the United States against further provocations. Iran state television separately reported the incidents, confirming tanker damage in and around the Strait of Hormuz.
Oil prices rose sharply following the reports. Brent crude climbed 3% to $112 per barrel, reaching a five-month high, while WTI traded near $99 per barrel, also up approximately 2% on the session.
Brent crude and WTI are the primary benchmark contracts for global and US crude pricing; the attacks on tankers engaged in oil transfers in the Persian Gulf directly affect flows through the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint through which a substantial share of seaborne crude exports transit. USO, the US-listed oil fund that tracks WTI futures, reflects spot movements in crude tied to these supply disruptions.
The IRGC framed the strikes as a response to ongoing US military pressure and explicitly warned Washington against escalation. The US subsequently ordered non-emergency personnel to leave Saudi Arabia, a step that signals a formal assessment of elevated regional risk by US authorities.
Sources: Oilprice, Guardian Business, Bloomberg Markets, Marketwatch TOP, Cnbc TOP