US Sinks Iranian Warship in Hormuz
The crisis in the Gulf has escalated dramatically after the U.S. Navy sank an Iranian warship, according to reports. The Strait of Hormuz is now effectively closed, with oil tankers stranded for a fifth straight day, severely disrupting a critical global energy chokepoint.
The specific vessel sunk by a U.S. submarine was the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena, which went down in the Indian Ocean, approximately 40 nautical miles off the coast of Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan authorities reported 87 bodies were recovered and 32 sailors were rescued from the ship, which was carrying a crew of about 180. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the attack, describing the torpedo strike as a "quiet death." The Pentagon noted this was the first time a U.S. submarine has sunk an enemy warship with a torpedo since the Second World War. In response, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated the U.S. had perpetrated an "atrocity at sea" and would "come to bitterly regret" the action. This incident is part of a wider escalation following U.S.-Israeli strikes that killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The Strait of Hormuz closure has triggered a severe global energy shock, halting about 20% of the world's crude oil supply and a significant share of liquefied natural gas (LNG). This disruption removes approximately 20 million barrels of oil per day from global markets. Energy markets reacted instantly, with Brent crude prices surging over 7% to $83 per barrel, and analysts predict prices could exceed $100 per barrel if the blockade persists. Daily freight rates for LNG tankers have jumped by more than 40%, while costs for very large crude carriers have more than tripled. The naval engagement is part of a broader U.S. campaign dubbed "Operation Epic Fury." U.S. Central Command announced that American forces had previously struck and sunk another Iranian warship, a Jamaran-class corvette, at a pier in Chabahar. Overall maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz has plummeted by as much as 70-90% since the escalation began. Insurers are withdrawing coverage for vessels in the region, making commercial transit through the critical chokepoint effectively unfeasible.
