US Strikes Iranian Oil Tankers as Tehran Threatens Stronger Retaliation
The United States said it destroyed three Iranian oil tankers on Saturday after accusing Iran of attempting missile attacks against US naval vessels. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), meanwhile, claimed it had targeted American-linked ships in retaliation.
The latest escalation comes as the six-month conflict between Washington and Tehran remains deadlocked. Iran continues to restrict shipping through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, while the United States is intensifying efforts to counter the blockade and pressure Iranian ports.
Washington is also expanding economic pressure on Tehran, imposing sanctions on organizations and financial networks accused of supporting Iran's government and the IRGC.
US targets three oil tankers
US Central Command (CENTCOM) said its forces targeted three tankers allegedly connected to the IRGC.
According to CENTCOM, the vessels were disabled after Iran attempted to attack US warships.
The military said the crude oil carrier M/T Downy was disabled off the coast of Kharg Island, while M/T Stark 1 was targeted near Jask. A third vessel, the empty crude carrier M/T Kylo, was attacked in the Gulf of Oman.
CENTCOM said the crew of the Kylo was ordered to abandon the ship before US forces struck several critical areas of the vessel, leaving it unable to operate.
Video released by the US military appeared to show explosions and large flames following the strikes.
CENTCOM said the vessels were part of a large network allegedly used to generate billions of dollars for the IRGC and groups associated with it.
Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of US Central Command, said the strikes were intended to impose an economic cost on Iran following the alleged attacks on American vessels.
Iran claims attacks on US warships
Iran's Revolutionary Guards offered a different account of the confrontation.
In a statement carried by Iranian state media, the IRGC said its forces had launched several ballistic missiles at an American aircraft carrier and a destroyer.
The Guards claimed both US vessels sustained damage and were forced to withdraw. US officials, however, said the ships successfully avoided the Iranian attacks.
The IRGC later claimed that its naval forces had targeted three oil tankers traveling through an unauthorized route in the Strait of Hormuz, as well as three other vessels it described as being affiliated with the United States.
Iran warned other ships against using routes it considers unauthorized.
There were no immediate reports from international maritime authorities confirming that civilian tankers had been attacked in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran condemns US strikes
Iran's Foreign Ministry condemned the American attacks on the tankers as illegal and aggressive.
Iranian state television reported that one of the targeted tankers was empty while another was carrying crude oil. The crews were reportedly taken to safety aboard lifeboats.
A state television correspondent on Kharg Island said there were no reported casualties from the attack there.
Iran's Khatam-al Anbiya central military command warned that continued US strikes could lead to a stronger response against American naval forces.
The Iranian military said any future retaliation could be more severe than previous attacks and could potentially expand to additional targets.
Washington downplays the conflict
The Trump administration has sought to minimize the political impact of the six-month conflict inside the United States, particularly as midterm elections approach.
Vice President JD Vance recently said he would not describe the confrontation as a conventional war.
President Donald Trump also characterized the conflict as relatively minor for the United States, referring to it as "small potatoes."
Iranian officials have taken a sharply different position.
Security official Mohsen Rezaei said Iran had adopted a new strategy toward Washington and warned that the approach would pose a major challenge to the United States.
Strait of Hormuz remains a major flashpoint
The Strait of Hormuz has become one of the central points of the conflict. Before the war, roughly one-fifth of the world's oil supply passed through the narrow waterway.
A fragile ceasefire broke down in July following attacks involving commercial shipping in the region.
Trump has repeatedly threatened to assert US control over the strategic waterway and has argued that Iran should no longer be able to restrict international shipping.
Vance has also said Washington would not resume negotiations with Tehran unless Iran stops attacks on commercial vessels.
However, rising fuel prices have created growing political pressure on the administration, particularly ahead of the US midterm elections. Officials have increasingly emphasized that oil shipments through the waterway are gradually returning toward prewar levels.
Vance said Thursday that Iran's effective control over the Strait of Hormuz had been significantly weakened.
US expands economic pressure on Iran
Before the latest military escalation, Washington had appeared increasingly focused on economic measures against Tehran.
The US Treasury Department announced new sanctions on a Turkish bank over alleged financial connections to the IRGC. The move followed another US action targeting the international operations of a major Egyptian bank over alleged links to Iran's financial network.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has described the administration's strategy as an effort to economically isolate Iran.
Washington has also warned other countries that they could face consequences if they refuse to participate in the US campaign to restrict Iran's access to international financial markets.
The latest strikes and counter-threats indicate that the conflict remains highly volatile, with the Strait of Hormuz continuing to pose a major risk to regional security and global energy markets.
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