Iranian state television said seven oil tankers caught fire or were damaged overnight in the Strait of Hormuz, helping push oil prices higher and renewing concern that the Iran war could escalate.
Citing the navy of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, state television said four tankers were attacked while transferring oil and caught fire. State television said three others were damaged and could not move after hitting naval mines. The report did not identify the vessels’ flags or say whether anyone was hurt.
Reports available Thursday had not independently verified the claims. If confirmed, the incidents would mark the highest number of vessels damaged in the waterway in one day since the war began on Feb. 28. The United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran to begin the war.
The IRGC navy also warned that U.S. efforts to help tankers travel through routes it considers unauthorized could lead to attacks on U.S. bases in the region. Markets reacted to the report. Brent crude rose 3.2% to $112.27 a barrel.
U.S. benchmark crude gained 2.8% to $99.80. The price increase came amid wider concerns about how long the conflict would disrupt energy shipping and when oil flows could return to normal.