Oil Prices and Tanker Rates Rise After Latest Iranian Attacks in Mideast

By The Maritime Executive 2026-10-08 20:17:00

Following yesterday's tanker attack in the central Arabian Gulf, Brent oil futures climbed to $104 per barrel, Dated Brent hit $136, and benchmark Gulf-East Asia tanker rates passed the $1.4 million per day mark – all reflecting expectations of a heightened risk of Iranian attack for energy shipping in and out of the Strait of Hormuz. 

The vessel hit in the central Gulf on Wednesday has now been identified as the Antigua-flagged product tanker Acers (IMO 9301902), according to multiple maritime security sources. EOS Risk Group's Martin Kelly reports that Acers was hit by three drones, damaging the funnel and the upper decks of the superstructure while also sparking a fire in the engine room. The blaze has since been put out, he reports. 

Additionally, UKMTO reported another attack on an unnamed crude oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, the latest in a rapidly growing series. On Wednesday evening, shortly after 1700 hours UTC, a tanker was hit by an unknown projectile off the Musandam Peninsula. No casualties were reported, and the agency had no further informtion on the damage assessment. 

It was the 13th strike of the month, according to UKMTO's public tally. Privately, officials told the New York Times on Thursday that the count is closer to 20 ships affected. 

A limited body of evidence suggests that another tanker may have been hit Wednesday in the Gulf of Oman, on the eastern side of the strait. NASA FIRMS infrared sensing data corroborates Iranian-source claims of an attack on a vessel off Fujairah, east of the port's busy tanker anchorage. "If confirmed, [this] would indicate Iran is targeting feeders and shuttle runners outside of [Hormuz]," said Kelly. If Iran expands its anti-tanker campaign beyond the narrow waters of the strait, the threat to shipping would extend beyond the protection of the U.S. military's heavy patrol presence around the Musandam Peninsula – and out into areas where defensive assets are more thinly spread. 

U.S. forces are not going to be responding  to the concerted campaign of Iranian attacks with escalation, at least before the U.S. midterm elections are over, President Donald Trump said on Thursday. "While Iran is in very bad condition, both economically and militarily, and while the blockade will remain in full force and effect . . . we will not be attacking Iran at any time prior to the midterm elections to be held in the United States on November 3," Trump said in a statement. 

Internally, officials told the New York Times and Axios, the Pentagon is still preparing strike options. Three carriers will soon be staged in the Mideast on overlapping deployments, and the current contingency plan – if activated by the president – reportedly would deliver  concerted attacks on Iranian missile and drone assets, energy facilities, and military command and control sites over a period of three days. In the past, Iran has reconstituted its ballistic missile capabilities at speed, and has responded with long-range strikes on U.S. base infrastructure around the region.