IRGC Strikes Three More Oil Tankers and Three US-Linked Vessels; Iran Warns of 'More Painful' Response

Iran's IRGC Navy said it retaliated for the US Navy's Sep 5 destruction of three Iranian oil tankers (the M/T Downy, M/T Stark 1, and a third vessel struck near Kharg Island, Jask and the Gulf of Oman) by hitting three more oil tankers it said were sailing an 'unauthorised route' through the Strait of Hormuz, plus three US-affiliated vessels, and separately attacking a US naval drone and an unmanned surface vessel; the IRGC statement gave no further detail on damage or casualties. Iran's Foreign Ministry again called the preceding US tanker strikes a war crime, while parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned that any further attacks on Iran would meet a 'faster, heavier and more painful response,' declaring 'the era of proportionate responses is over.' Brent crude held near $95.75-96/bbl into the weekend, up more than 8% for the week -- its strongest since July -- with Iranian commentators predicting oil could clear $100/bbl if tanker-on-tanker strikes continue; US Vice President JD Vance said Washington would not engage Tehran in talks unless Iran halts attacks on commercial shipping in the strait.