WASHINGTON — The United States has launched retaliatory strikes against three Iranian oil tankers after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) fired multiple ballistic missiles at two US naval vessels, according to the US Central Command (CENTCOM).
The strikes targeted two tankers near Iran’s Kharg Island in the Persian Gulf and another vessel in the Gulf of Oman, according to CENTCOM. The US military said the operation was carried out after Iranian missile attacks against a US aircraft carrier and a guided-missile destroyer were successfully repelled.
No US military personnel were reported killed or wounded in the missile attacks.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a stark warning following the strikes, saying that Iran would face further consequences if it attacks American vessels.
“It’s very simple—if Iran fires on our ships, we will destroy and sink their oil tankers,” Hegseth said in a social-media post.
Three tankers targeted
CENTCOM said the US military permanently disabled two oil tankers—MT Downey, near Kharg Island, and MT Stark-1, off the coast of Jask.
A third vessel, MT Kylo, which was reportedly empty and operating in the Gulf of Oman, was completely destroyed in the operation.
CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper said the strikes were intended to demonstrate the economic consequences of attacks on US naval forces.
“The message to the IRGC is clear: if you attack two of our ships, we will disable three tankers and impose an even greater economic cost,” Cooper said.
Iranian state media, however, reported that there were no casualties in the attack near Kharg Island. Firefighters reportedly brought the blaze under control within about an hour using the tanker’s cooling system.
Crew members aboard the other affected vessels were evacuated to shore by lifeboats, according to Iranian reports.
Kharg Island raises stakes
The proximity of the US strikes to Kharg Island has heightened concerns about a wider escalation.
Kharg Island is Iran’s principal crude oil export hub and handles the overwhelming majority of the country’s crude exports. Any sustained disruption around the island could therefore have significant consequences for Iran’s economy as well as international energy markets.
The latest confrontation comes after the expiration last month of a 60-day ceasefire between the United States and Iran. Rising military tensions around the Persian Gulf and the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz have renewed fears of a broader regional conflict.
Global energy markets under pressure
The escalation is also threatening to intensify pressure on global oil and fuel markets. Disruptions to shipping through the Persian Gulf or the Strait of Hormuz could affect international crude supplies because the waterway is one of the world’s most important energy transit routes.
US diesel prices have already risen sharply, with the average price reportedly reaching $5.85 per gallon.
The surge in fuel costs could also create a political challenge for President Donald Trump ahead of the US midterm elections scheduled for November, as higher gasoline and diesel prices risk adding to inflationary pressures on American consumers and businesses.
With US and Iranian forces now directly exchanging fire and commercial oil shipping becoming increasingly vulnerable, the latest strikes mark a potentially dangerous new phase in the confrontation between Washington and Tehran.
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