The United States military said Saturday that its forces struck three Iranian crude oil tankers after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched ballistic missiles toward two US Navy warships, raising fears of a renewed escalation in the conflict and a wider confrontation over shipping in the Arabian Gulf.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) said a US aircraft carrier and a guided-missile destroyer successfully evaded what it described as “multiple unprovoked Iranian attacks.” In response, US forces “permanently disabled” two IRGC crude oil carriers, M/T Downy, off the coast of Kharg Island, and M/T Stark 1, near Jask, according to the US military.
A third tanker, the M/T Kylo, was attacked outside the Arabian Gulf. CENTCOM said the unladen crude tanker was “completely destroyed” after being struck multiple times to render it inoperable. CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper said the attacks were intended to impose an economic cost on Iran.
Iran warns of response
“If you shoot at two of our ships, we will impose an even higher economic cost, taking out three of yours,” Cooper said. Iran’s state news agency IRNA reported the US military’s statement and said Iranian officials had emphasized that they would respond strongly to any attack. However, there was no immediate statement from Iran’s top leadership.
Earlier Saturday, Iranian news agencies reported that a tanker had come under a US missile attack near Kharg Island. Tasnim reported that the vessel was hit by four projectiles and that there were no casualties. Audio obtained by CNN indicated that a US military aircraft issued warnings to the tanker over an emergency communications channel before the attack.
In one exchange, a US military voice warned the M/T Stark 1 that it was preparing to fire at the vessel and gave the crew 10 minutes to clear the stern. A later warning told the crew that it was the “final warning” and instructed them to enter lifeboats and abandon the ship.
Strait of Hormuz tensions
The latest attacks threaten to intensify a growing confrontation over commercial shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes. Iran has sought to prevent shipping from transiting the strait without its consent, while the United States has increased its targeting of Iranian shipping.
The two countries exchanged strikes earlier this week for the first time in more than a month, raising concerns that the latest attacks could trigger another cycle of retaliation. The conflict has left US and Iranian forces in a volatile standoff over control of the strategic waterway, which is critical to global oil supplies.
Kharg Island remains critical to Iran’s oil exports
Kharg Island, located off Iran’s coast, is a major crude oil export hub and has historically handled about 90% of Iran’s crude oil exports. The island has been attacked during the conflict, while US President Donald Trump has previously threatened to capture it.
Shipping data and satellite imagery indicate that nearly 20 Iranian tankers are anchored near Kharg Island and are unable to leave the Gulf because of the US naval blockade. Many of the vessels are reportedly fully loaded. Across the Persian Gulf and into the Gulf of Oman, ship-tracking services indicate that more than 50 Iranian tankers are currently in the area.
US says conflict is not a “war”
The latest confrontation comes despite comments by US Vice President JD Vance on Thursday that the conflict should not be described as a “war.” Vance said that, despite the latest flare-up, there was “no active shooting” and declined to provide a timetable for ending the conflict.
He suggested that it was ultimately up to Iran to bring the conflict to an end. The current confrontation began about six months ago with joint US-Israeli airstrikes, according to the report, and the latest attacks risk further disrupting shipping and increasing pressure on Iran’s oil exports.
