U.S. Launches Second Wave of Strikes on Iran as Oil Surges Past $95
A fresh round of American cruise missile strikes has rattled energy markets and left three Indian crew members missing after a tanker attack near Oman.
U.S. Central Command confirmed on Wednesday that American forces had carried out an additional round of strikes against multiple targets inside Iran, following an initial attack the previous day. The follow-on operation represents a significant escalation in direct military confrontation between Washington and Tehran.
President Donald Trump told American media that approximately 49 Tomahawk cruise missiles were used in the second wave of strikes, according to NHK. The precision land-attack weapons targeted multiple sites within Iranian territory, though the specific nature of those targets was not fully detailed in official disclosures.
Brent crude oil surged more than two percent on news of the continued strikes, briefly trading above $95 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate advanced toward $93, according to the Japan Times. The price gains partially reversed after reports that the American strike campaign had concluded, suggesting markets were pricing in the risk of a prolonged conflict rather than a discrete exchange.
A separate and potentially grave development emerged near Oman, where Mainichi Shimbun reported that U.S. forces attacked a tanker in waters off the Omani coast. Three Indian crew members were reported missing in the aftermath of that incident, raising the humanitarian stakes of the broader military confrontation.
The strikes and tanker incident have drawn renewed attention to the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly a fifth of the world's seaborne oil supply passes. Any sustained disruption to shipping in the region could have lasting consequences for global energy prices well beyond the immediate market reaction.
Public broadcasters and centrist outlets have framed the events somewhat differently. NHK's coverage focused on the operational details of the missile deployment and the sequential nature of the attacks, emphasising the deliberate escalation from U.S. forces. The Japan Times underscored the economic dimension, leading with market volatility and the fragility of any ceasefire, while Mainichi's reporting highlighted the human cost through the missing crew members.
The background to the strikes lies in longstanding tensions over Iran's nuclear programme and its regional proxy networks, tensions that have periodically brought the two countries to the edge of open conflict. A two-day exchange of direct strikes marks a qualitative departure from the covert and proxy confrontations that have characterised the relationship for decades.
What remains uncertain is whether the cessation of strikes signals a deliberate pause intended to allow diplomatic off-ramps, or simply a tactical lull before further action. The fate of the three missing Indian crew members, the full extent of damage to Iranian targets, and Tehran's intended response are all unresolved, leaving both energy markets and regional governments on edge.