Iran reports 7 oil tankers hit in Strait of Hormuz as war fears rise

Iran reported that seven oil tankers caught fire or were damaged in the Strait of Hormuz overnight, attributing the incidents to strikes or naval mines, as regional tensions escalate over fears of renewed all-out war. The claim, aired on state television and citing the Revolutionary Guard Corps navy, could not be independently confirmed. The attacks mark October as having the most reported incidents on commercial shipping since March, according to a British military monitor, though some shippers are now reluctant to report. Oil continues to flow through the strait under U.S. military protection, with tankers using a "dark shuttle" system near Oman, but spot charter rates have soared and ship-to-ship transfers take days. The escalation comes ahead of Israel's Oct. 27 election and U.S. midterms, with analysts warning a Netanyahu victory makes an attack on Iran almost certain. Iran remains open to diplomacy but threatens U.S. bases, while Washington has sent a third aircraft carrier to the region.