Wednesday, December 15, 2021
Iran says 7 tankers were hit by fire and mines in Hormuz on October 22; Trump and CENTCOM call it false, no monitor has confirmed it, and Brent rose to about $111.
Iran says seven oil tankers were hit in the Strait of Hormuz overnight into Thursday, October 22. Iranian state TV, citing the Revolutionary Guard navy, said four tankers caught fire while transferring oil. It said three more were disabled by naval mines. If true, it would be the most ships damaged in a single day since the war began on February 28. Iran did not name the ships, give their flags, or report casualties.
Washington says it did not happen. President Trump called the hits and the mines fake. He said Iran is trying to "drive up the price of oil" before the US midterm elections. A US Central Command spokesperson, speaking anonymously to Al Jazeera, called the mine claim incorrect. The spokesperson said US forces have cleared the shipping lanes and that 95 percent of vessels are getting through. Neither side has offered evidence the other can check.
No independent source has settled it. The Associated Press and Al Jazeera both said the attacks could not be verified. The UK Maritime Trade Operations center (UKMTO), which logged a surge of attacks earlier this month, had not reported these. AP noted that some shippers have been reluctant to report incidents in recent days. Drop Site News had not covered the claim as of this morning. Until ship names, tracking data, or satellite images surface, treat both the seven-tanker count and the denial as unconfirmed.
The markets reacted anyway. Brent crude rose 2.2 percent to about $111 a barrel on Thursday, its highest level in five months, according to AP. GasBuddy analyst Patrick De Haan said wholesale diesel rose 16 cents a gallon and gasoline 8 cents. At the pump, the US Energy Information Administration put regular gasoline at $4.28 and diesel at $6.28 as of October 19. Diesel is up more than $2.60 from a year ago. These are moving numbers and are expected to climb if attacks continue.
The pressure is building on other fronts too. The Guard navy threatened to strike US bases in the region if American forces keep guiding ships through the strait. AP reports the US is sending a third aircraft carrier and thousands more troops. Iran has also hinted it could target undersea cables and data centers. President Trump rejected Iran's offer to reopen the strait within a week in exchange for lifting the US blockade of its ports.
Disputed claims are part of how this war is fought. Identifying misinformation starts with asking who benefits from a claim and waiting for a second source. Prices react before the facts are in, so plan for the price, not the headline. The Strait of Hormuz carried about a fifth of the world's oil before the war, and every scare there reaches American pumps within days. Keep your tank above half. If you heat with oil or propane, ask your dealer about a fill before winter demand peaks.
Diesel moves the trucks that stock grocery shelves, so food prices tend to follow it. A plan for economic preparedness helps you absorb that without cutting essentials. Adding a few weeks of staples to your food stockpile now locks in today's prices. A modest reserve of cash in a crisis covers you if card systems or paychecks lag behind a price jump.
Where it stands now: Iran's claim is unverified, the US denies it, and no neutral monitor has confirmed any of the seven hits. Oil prices are up regardless, and talks remain stalled. Check your fuel level and your pantry this week. Be Prepared Not Scared!
