Washington: The United States has struck three Iranian crude-oil tankers after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched ballistic missiles toward two US Navy warships operating in regional waters, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Saturday.
According to CENTCOM, a US aircraft carrier and a guided-missile destroyer successfully evaded multiple Iranian attacks, and no American personnel were injured. The military said the subsequent strikes targeted three Iranian oil carriers linked to a network accused of generating revenue for the IRGC and its regional allies.
The strikes reportedly included an attack on a tanker near Kharg Island, home to Iran’s main crude-oil export terminal. Iranian reports said tanker crews were evacuated and there were no immediate reports of casualties.
US Central Command described the action as a response to what it called Iranian attacks on American naval forces and warned that further hostile actions could bring additional economic and military consequences.
The latest strikes mark another sharp escalation in the confrontation between Washington and Tehran, with the security of oil shipments and the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz emerging as major flashpoints.
Global energy markets are closely watching the developments because any further disruption to Iranian oil exports or shipping through the Gulf could put additional pressure on international crude supplies and prices.
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