The strikes follow a series of maritime escalations across the region as the broader military confrontation between Washington and Tehran enters its seventh month. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it launched attacks against 10 ships in the waterway, while international reports placed the number of targeted vessels higher. Commercial traffic through the vital transit corridor slowed to a trickle.

Regional hostilities expanded on multiple fronts. Iran's military claimed direct missile strikes against U.S. positions in Jordan. Jordanian officials disputed this account, stating their forces intercepted 18 of 20 incoming ballistic missiles, with the remaining two landing in unpopulated territory. Central Command said it had no information regarding the Iranian claims in Jordan. In Saudi Arabia, strikes by Iran-backed Houthi rebels sparked fires at oil facilities, while Houthi representatives reported hundreds of casualties from dozens of Saudi airstrikes near the Red Sea.

Energy markets reacted sharply to the disruptions. Brent crude jumped above $99 a barrel, with some benchmarks briefly crossing the $100 mark, representing a gain of more than 60% since the start of the year. U.S. crude reached $94 a barrel, and European natural gas climbed for a fourth consecutive session to three-year highs.

Trade tensions also intensified in North America. President Donald Trump signed orders banning imports of Canadian dairy, alcoholic beverages, and motorcycles, set to take effect on September 29. Trump added threats to block sales of Bombardier aircraft unless the company moves manufacturing to the United States.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney responded with approximately $20 billion in retaliatory tariffs targeting American steel, aluminum, cheese, and appliances after Washington announced 50% tariffs. Carney said Ottawa would look to expand its trade relationships away from reliance on the United States.