NPR News: 03-11-2026 8AM EDT

Live from NPR News in Washington, a British Maritime Organization reports that three ships have been hit in the Persian Gulf region, with one crew evacuating a vessel in the Strait of Hormuz after it caught fire—a fire that has since been extinguished. The U.S. military says it attacked and sank sixteen Iranian vessels capable of planting mines in the water. These developments are part of the ongoing US-Israeli war in Iran, which is now driving fuel costs higher around the world.

Escalation in the Persian Gulf and Rising Global Fuel Costs

The maritime incidents in the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz mark a significant escalation in the conflict. The U.S. military's claim of sinking sixteen Iranian mine-laying vessels underscores the naval dimension of the war. The immediate consequence is a spike in global fuel costs. In Thailand, government employees are being asked to use stairs and walk from home to save on energy as fuel prices rise. India is curbing cooking gas supplies to hotels and commercial businesses to prioritize households, hospitals, and schools. In Nigeria, fuel prices have shot up as much as 40% in some cities since the start of the US-Israeli war in Iran, sparking panic buying and long lines at gas stations. Internationally, countries from the International Energy Agency are meeting in Paris to discuss whether to release some strategic oil reserves as an