Iranian forces fired missiles at US warships at least three times during the week ending September 9, including at a US aircraft carrier, according to The Wall Street Journal, while Iran also launched a large-scale missile strike against US forces in Jordan. US Central Command said the targeted ships evaded the attacks; separately, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed it struck two US vessels and eight oil tankers, a claim the command denied. The escalation followed the deployment of 19 US Navy vessels for blockade operations, sanctions that pressured Iran’s oil exports and financial system, and a weakening rial. US officials are concerned that Russia or China may have helped Iran improve its ability to attack moving ships with fast-flying, medium-range ballistic missiles fitted with maneuverable warheads. The pressure and uncertainty around the Strait of Hormuz also affected energy markets: AAA said the national average gasoline price rose 13 cents in a week to a three-month high, while crude returned to the $100-per-barrel range for the first time since July. EIA data showed gasoline demand fell from 8.92 million barrels per day to 8.55 million, and production declined from 9.8 million barrels to 9.3 million. Analysts said Tehran appears to be seeking to raise the military and political costs of US pressure without directly confronting American forces, while a successful strike could trigger retaliation, unsettle markets and threaten Gulf states. Additional regional risks included Iran-backed Houthis taking control of Mocha and possibly striking Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline, which has capacity of 7 million barrels per day.