Strait of Hormuz Shipping Battle Escalates as Tehran Uses Manoeuvrable Warheads

World 11:52 AM - 2026-09-10

The war between US and Iran.

Iran has intensified its attacks on US forces and shipping in the Gulf, escalating the confrontation with Washington as tensions around the Strait of Hormuz continue to disrupt regional trade and energy supplies.

The escalation follows US strikes that destroyed five Iranian oil tankers after the US military said Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had twice targeted a US warship with ballistic missiles over two days. The US said the warship successfully evaded both attacks and that no American personnel were harmed. 

The Wall Street Journal reported that Iran has launched multiple missile attacks against US warships, including an aircraft carrier. The attacks reportedly involved manoeuvrable medium-range ballistic missiles and came closer to striking US vessels than previous attempts, although the US Navy successfully evaded them. 

Iran subsequently claimed that its forces had attacked 10 vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, including two US ships and eight oil tankers. However, US Central Command rejected the claim that any American warship had been hit, saying that all Iranian attacks had failed. 

The US military confirmed that it had destroyed five Iranian oil tankers: the Kaviz, Charminar, Horizon 1 and Riesco in the Gulf of Oman, and the Derya near Kharg Island. CENTCOM said the vessels were linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and that their crews were directed to abandon ship before the strikes.

Iran has also expanded its maritime restrictions, announcing plans for a much larger restricted zone extending from Chabahar into parts of the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. Tehran has warned that it would respond more forcefully to further US attacks. 

Commercial shipping has also come under pressure. The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that several vessels in the northern Gulf and Gulf of Oman were affected by disabling fire. A tanker carrying around two million barrels of fuel oil, the New Andros, was also struck by a drone in Iraqi waters, suffering minor hull damage. No injuries or oil leakage were reported. 

Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has fallen sharply. Preliminary shipping data showed that only seven vessels transited the strait on Wednesday, down from 12 the previous day and well below the recent 10-day average of 14. The figures highlight the growing impact of the conflict on one of the world’s most important energy routes. 

Iran has also fired ballistic missiles towards a US base in Jordan. Jordanian authorities said their air defences intercepted 18 of 20 missiles, with two falling in unpopulated areas. A US official said the attack was ineffective and that all American personnel were accounted for. 

US President Donald Trump has meanwhile said he expects the war with Iran to end after the November 2026 midterm elections. He also renewed his threat to strike Pickaxe Mountain, a fortified Iranian site linked to the country’s nuclear programme. 

Senior White House advisers, including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have reportedly discussed the possibility that the conflict could continue for much longer, potentially extending through Trump’s current term. 

The widening confrontation has also pushed oil prices above $100 a barrel, while attacks by Iran-aligned Houthi forces on Saudi Arabia have added further concerns over regional energy supplies and alternative shipping routes. 

Sources: Reuters, ABC News, and The Washington Post


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