Three more ships struck in the Gulf as Iran warns of oil hitting $200
Merchant ships are seen off the coast of Dubai on March 11, 2026.
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Officials said that three more foreign ships were hit in the Persian Gulf overnight, as attacks on ships passing through or sailing near the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz intensified.
The latest incidents come after three separate ships were damaged in Gulf waters on Wednesday and Iran warned that oil prices could rise to $200 per barrel.
The UK Merchant Marine Operations (UKMTO) headquarters hit a container ship with an unknown projectile about 35 nautical miles north of Jebel Ali, a major port city near Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. in question on Thursday. The incident caused a small fire on board and all crew were declared safe.
Earlier, two foreign oil tankers burst into flames in Iraqi waters after being hit near the Umm Qasr port near the city of Basra.
It was stated that at least one person died in the attack multiple media reportsAccording to Iraqi port officials, 38 crew members were rescued from the ships. Iraq’s General Ports Corporation was not immediately available for comment when contacted by CNBC.
Shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz has come to a near standstill since the United States and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran on February 28. Iran has retaliated by targeting ships trying to pass through the strait, with several incidents reported in recent days.
The narrow waterway is an important maritime corridor connecting the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Roughly 20% of global oil and gas typically passes through here.
Attacks on commercial ships in the Gulf have raised fears of a prolonged economic shock.
“Be ready for $200 a barrel of oil, because the price of oil depends on regional security, which you are destabilizing,” Iranian military command spokesman Ebrahim Zolfaqari said on Wednesday. he said. According to Reuters.
Crude oil prices rose sharply on Thursday morning as traders closely watched supply risks and shrugged off pressure from the International Energy Agency to extract a record 400 million barrels of oil.
International comparison Brent crude futures While May delivery was traded at $97.16 per barrel, up 5.7%, the US West Texas Intermediate Futures April delivery was up 5.3% at $91.88.
The IEA did not set a timeline on Wednesday for when the shares would hit the market. It was stated that the reserves will be released within a time frame appropriate to the conditions of each of the 32 member countries.
