US intelligence sees direct attacks by Iran on oil tankers as greater risk than mines

<p>Strait of Hormuz, key transit passage for global oil trade, has been effectively shut down by Islamic Revolutionary Guard</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/2026/feb/17/sign-up-for-the-breaking-news-us-email-to-get-newsletter-alerts-direct-to-your-inbox?utm_medium=ACQUISITIONS_STANDFIRST&amp;utm_campaign=BN22326&amp;utm_content=signup&amp;utm_term=standfirst&amp;utm_source=GUARDIAN_WEB">Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inbox</a></p></li></ul><p>US intelligence reporting sees direct attacks by <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/iran">Iran</a> as the greatest threat to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/oil">oil</a> tankers going through the strait of Hormuz, the key transit passage for the global oil trade that has been effectively shut down by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard since the start of the US-Israeli war against Iran.</p><p>The <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/trump-administration">Trump administration</a>, spooked by possible preparations by Iran to mine the strait, carried out strikes against <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/2026/mar/11/us-iran-strait-of-hormuz-mine-boat-attacks">16 mine-laying vessels</a> near the strait on Tuesday. US Central Command posted a video showing munitions hitting nine vessels, most of which were moored as they were struck.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/11/attacks-iran-oil-tankers-strait-hormuz">Continue reading...</a>

Read the full article at: The Guardian World →