US strikes Iranian oil tankers

News · Heat 1.2 / 10 · 4 shows · 12m airtime

U.S. Central Command destroyed five Iranian oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman and off Karg Island on September 8, bringing the total to eight since September 5. Iran's Revolutionary Guard struck back at U.S. troops at an airbase in Jordan, where Jordan says it intercepted all but two of 20 missiles, and released visuals of a captured U.S. underwater drone. The discussion now centers on Iran's claim of striking 10 vessels and its threat of 20 targets per two or three U.S. strikes, the drawdown in Bahrain from about 8,000 personnel to less than 100, Trump's statement that he expects the war to end immediately after the November midterm elections, and reporting that spouses and children were on the…

How 4 podcasts covered it

1. Up First, 2026-09-09 (2:20 to 5:57)
   Reports from Dubai on the tanker strikes
   Reports from Dubai on the overnight strikes and Iran's retaliation: eight tankers hit since Saturday, a missile attack on a U.S. airbase in Jordan, a captured underwater drone, and Bahrain personnel down from 8,000 to under 100.
   New angle: U.S. personnel in Bahrain have dropped from about 8,000 to less than 100.
2. Morning Wire, 2026-09-09 (2:11 to 2:39)
   Adds Tehran's retaliation claims
   Adds the Iranian side of the September 8 strikes: Tehran claims it hit 10 vessels in retaliation, and the Revolutionary Guard warns it will hit 20 targets for every two or three U.S. strikes.
3. Morning Wire, 2026-09-09 (2:21 to 3:00)
   Adds Trump's midterm war timeline
   Adds the political framing on top of the tanker strikes: Trump tells reporters he expects the war to end right after the November midterms and accuses Tehran of trying to sway the vote, while Netanyahu says the Islamic Republic is near collapse.
   New angle: Trump says he expects the Iran war to end immediately after the November midterm elections.
4. The Daily, 2026-09-10 (44:42 to 45:15)
   Restates the tanker strikes and Iran's reply
   A one-minute news roundup item on the tanker strikes: Iran signals willingness to escalate after attacking American warships, the U.S. says it destroyed five tankers in retaliation, and Iran says it hit a base in Jordan. It restates what the point already holds.
5. Morning Wire, 2026-09-11 (17:15 to 20:43)
   Interviews Yates on the tanker strikes
   A one-minute Heritage Foundation interview on the tanker strikes: Yates says every Iranian communication should be treated as an influence operation, that insurers and shippers have panicked into a panic oil price, and that Tehran believes the midterms give it leverage.
   New angle: Yates says insurers' and shippers' panic has produced a panic price for oil.
6. Morning Wire, 2026-09-17 (2:10 to 2:47)
   Adds downed drones and Vance's warning
   Adds two items to the Iran file: CBS reports Iranian forces downed at least two U.S. drones in recent days, and Vance warns that abandoning the Middle East would trigger a worldwide energy crisis, defending Trump's course.
   New angle: Iranian forces shot down at least two U.S. drones in recent days, per CBS News.
7. The Bulwark Daily, 2026-10-21 (48:59 to 51:51)
   Adds the unreported Bahrain base strike
   Brings in an MSNBC report on the Bahrain base strike: military families, including spouses and children, were on base, watched the drone and cruise missile strikes, and were evacuated with no plan in place. Hertling calls the absence of a plan a dereliction of duty and notes the episode went unreported for about five months.
   New angle: Spouses and children were on the Bahrain base during the strike and were evacuated with no plan; it went unreported for about five months.