US-Iranian Strikes on Hormuz Oil Vessels Mark Shift to Direct Targeting

On September 7, 2026, US and Iranian strikes hit oil vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, escalating from interdiction to direct kinetic targeting of oil traffic. Brent crude rose 0.54% to $96.80. The April 8 ceasefire has not held. Roughly 17 million barrels daily transit the strait, the world's busiest oil chokepoint. No de-escalation mechanism is in place.