EL7.AI
GeopoliticsMediumUpdated•Originally published 10 September 2026•Updated 10 September 2026•
2 min read

Trump Says U.S. Disabled About 9 Iranian Tankers, Threatens More Strikes

Key Facts

1Trump said the United States had disabled about 9 Iranian tankers and that more attacks would follow.
2CENTCOM documents strikes on 5 tankers on September 8 and 3 on September 5, totaling 8 across the two waves.
3EIA estimated Hormuz flows at 4.9 million barrels a day in 2Q26 versus 21.6 million in 4Q25.

President Donald Trump said on September 9, 2026 that the United States had disabled about 9 Iranian tankers and that more attacks would follow. Separate U.S. Central Command statements document strikes on 5 tankers on September 8 and 3 on September 5, totaling 8 across those two waves. The figure of 9 should therefore be treated as Trump's estimate, not a fully reconciled official tally.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said the September 8 operation targeted 5 IRGC-linked tankers: M/T Kaviz, M/T Charminar, M/T Horizon 1 and M/T Riesco in the Gulf of Oman, and M/T Derya near Kharg Island. It said U.S. forces directed the crews to abandon the vessels before striking and rendering them inoperable.

On September 5, CENTCOM said it disabled 3 other tankers—M/T Downy, M/T Stark 1 and M/T Kylo—after ballistic missiles were launched toward 2 U.S. Navy warships. According to the U.S. account, both ships evaded the attacks and no American personnel were harmed.

The economic significance extends beyond the loss of the vessels. The U.S. Energy Information Administration estimated that petroleum and liquids flows through the Strait of Hormuz fell to 4.9 million barrels a day in 2Q26 from 21.6 million barrels a day in 4Q25 before the conflict. That decline shows why new attacks can quickly affect prices and inventories.

In a forecast issued before the latest strikes, EIA estimated that global inventories fell by 4.2 million barrels a day in 2Q26 and projected an additional decline of 3.8 million barrels a day in 3Q26. It forecast Brent averaging $85 in 3Q26 and $78 in 4Q26, conditional on a gradual improvement in Hormuz traffic; renewed escalation could alter that path.

On the supply side, 7 OPEC+ countries met on September 6, 2026 and decided to maintain September 2026 required production levels for October 2026. The group scheduled its next meeting for October 4, 2026, providing a formal point to reassess the market if the additional attacks threatened by Trump cause further shipping disruption.