Iran hits supertankers in the Strait of Hormuz

Oct 13, 2026

Iran's attacks on oil tankers are escalating, which is bad news for shipping, gas prices, and anyone betting the markets stay calm.

  • Six vessels were struck in the Strait of Hormuz in a single day, including drone and mine attacks and a fire aboard a crude carrier; two Indian crew members are missing.
  • The strait is clearly not secure, despite earlier claims that Iran's capabilities had been wiped out.
  • The diesel squeeze is already forcing policy shifts — sanctions on Russian oil have been lifted to ease the shortage.
  • Iran is test-firing large numbers of ballistic missiles and running its biggest military exercise since the war began, expecting another round of fighting with the US and Israel.
  • Stocks rose anyway, a disconnect that looks less like confidence than fear of what happens once selling starts in overstretched AI names.

Outlook: More strikes on Gulf oil and gas facilities look likely, which points to sharply higher gas prices and a market that eventually has to reprice.

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