3 ships hit in Gulf as Iran targets oil-exporting neighbors, vows oil price will hit $200 a barrel

Three commercial ships took fire in the Gulf on Wednesday, as Iran launched strikes against its oil-exporting neighbors, threatening shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

“Any vessel whose oil cargo or the vessel itself belongs to the United States, the Zionist regime or their hostile allies will be considered legitimate targets,” the Iranian military said, in a statement carried by state TV.

Iran will switch from “reciprocal hits” after attacks to continuous strikes on adversaries, and the US will not be able to control oil prices, said Ebrahim Zolfaqari, the spokesperson for Tehran’s Khatam al-Anbiya military command headquarters. “We won’t allow even one liter of oil to reach the US, Zionists and their partners.”

“Get ready for the oil barrel to be at $200 because the oil price depends on the regional security which you have destabilized,” he added.

The Thailand-flagged bulk carrier Mayuree Naree was targeted and damaged approximately 11 nautical miles north of Oman, two maritime security sources said.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed responsibility for the attack, the Guardian reported.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said later, referring to the incident, that the fire had been extinguished and that there was no environmental impact. Necessary crew remained on the vessel.

Earlier, the Japan-flagged container ship One Majesty sustained minor damage from an unknown projectile 25 nautical miles (46 km) northwest of Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates, two maritime security sources said.

Its crew members were safe and the vessel was sailing toward a safe anchorage, the sources added.

A third vessel, a bulk carrier, was hit by an unknown projectile approximately 50 miles northwest of Dubai, maritime security firms said.

The projectile had damaged the hull of the Marshall Islands-flagged Star Gwyneth, maritime risk management company Vanguard said, adding that the vessel’s crew were safe.

Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a key artery accounting ​for about 20% of global oil and gas supply, has dropped rapidly since the Iran conflict began on February 28.

Thai-flagged vessel attacked near Strait of Hormuz, three crew reported missing

A Thai-flagged cargo vessel was reportedly attacked near the Strait of Hormuz on March 11, leaving three crew members missing, according to media reports.

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The vessel, MAYUREE NAREE Bangkok, was hit… pic.twitter.com/fpoU2wuV3h

— Thai Enquirer (@ThaiEnquirer) March 11, 2026

The leaders of the G7 powers were to hold a video meeting later in the day to discuss opening their strategic petroleum reserves to counter the rising prices. Ahead of the talks, the group’s energy ministers said they “stand ready to take all necessary measures.”

Meanwhile, Iran’s military vowed to launch further strikes against US and Israeli economic targets in the region, after overnight attacks reportedly hit an Iranian bank.

An administrative building linked to Bank Sepah, which is one of the country’s largest public banks and has historical links to the military, was hit overnight in Tehran, according to the semi-official Mehr news agency.

“Following their failed campaign, the terrorist US army and cruel Zionist regime have targeted one of the country’s banks,” state media quoted a spokesman for Tehran’s Khatam al-Anbiya military command headquarters as saying.

“With this illegitimate and uncommon action, the enemy is forcing our hand to target economic centers and banks linked to the US and Zionist regime in the region,” he added, and warned people of the region to stay 1,000 meters away from banks.

Pentagon says US destroyed 16 Iranian minelaying vessels

On Tuesday, the Pentagon said US forces had carried out strikes that destroyed 16 minelaying vessels that could have been used to attack or deter traffic in the strait.

“If for any reason mines were placed, and they are not removed forthwith, the military consequences to Iran will be at a level never seen before,” US President Donald Trump posted on social media.

U.S. forces eliminated multiple Iranian naval vessels, March 10, including 16 minelayers near the Strait of Hormuz. pic.twitter.com/371unKYiJs

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 10, 2026

Trump has said the US Navy could accompany tankers through the strait, but his administration acknowledged that a post by his energy secretary that briefly reassured markets by announcing a first such escort was untrue.

Experts were dubious about whether naval escorts would be enough to reopen Hormuz to trade.

“Any escort mission would likely face persistent threats from Iranian missiles and drones, and the security risks alone could make a single transit through the strait more costly than the profit margin on the oil shipment itself,” the Soufan Center think tank said, in a briefing note.

“Experts estimate that Iran’s naval mine stockpile sits anywhere from 2,000 to 6,000 mines, which would further complicate any naval plan to escort commercial tankers,” it said.

Iranian drones impact near Dubai airport; four wounded

Meanwhile, two drones impacted in the vicinity of Dubai International Airport (DXB) on Wednesday, injuring four people, Dubai’s media office said.

Three foreign nationals — two Ghanaians and one Bangladeshi — were lightly injured in the attack, and one Indian was moderately injured, according to Dubai.

Flight resumed at the world’s busiest airport.

Lazar Berman contributed to this report.