Brent Crude Hits $117 After Tanker Attack in Strait of Hormuz

The UK Maritime Trade Operations confirmed that the vessel was approached by a small boat that attached the devices above the waterline. While the resulting fire temporarily disabled the ship, the crew remained safe, and the blaze was eventually extinguished, allowing the vessel to resume its journey. This incident follows a series of regional disruptions, including ongoing Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabian infrastructure, which have collectively kept energy markets on edge.

Simultaneously, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps escalated the rhetoric, disputing U.S. Central Command claims regarding the clearance of mine-threatened transit routes. IRGC spokesman Hossein Mohebi dismissed American accounts of the situation as a media war, asserting that control over the strait is maintained through direct military presence. With oil prices tracking for a fourth consecutive monthly gain, markets remain sensitive to the prospect of further Iranian involvement following the recent U.S. midterm elections.