Iran Strikes Tankers, IDF Hits Nuclear Site

Iran struck two oil tankers in the Persian Gulf on Thursday, March 12, 2026, killing one person, while the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported hitting a "critical" nuclear site near Tehran. These actions occurred amidst ongoing US-Israeli strikes against Iran and continued Iranian missile attacks on Israel, marking the 13th day of the conflict.

The attacks on the tankers, which were reportedly carrying Iraqi oil, exacerbated a crisis that has led to soaring crude prices despite countries releasing oil reserves. Iran also launched five salvos of missiles at Israel on Thursday, following a coordinated attack with Hezbollah on Wednesday night. No injuries were reported from these missile strikes.

The broader conflict, initiated by US-Israeli strikes on February 28, has seen Iran target various regional countries and threaten to close the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil shipping route. The United States has incurred significant costs, with the first week of fighting exceeding $11.3 billion, according to a Pentagon briefing cited by The New York Times.