U.S. forces struck three Iranian oil tankers after American officials said an aircraft carrier and destroyer had faced multiple ballistic missile attacks while patrolling the region. U.S. Central Command said no American personnel were injured and reported that two tankers were permanently disabled while a third, which was not carrying cargo, was destroyed.
The United States described the vessels as part of a shadow fleet used to generate revenue for Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and allied armed groups. Admiral Brad Cooper, head of Central Command, said U.S. forces would defend themselves and could target more of Iran’s oil fleet if attacks continued.
Iran condemned the strikes as a war crime and said it responded by targeting three oil tankers and three American vessels. Those claims were not independently confirmed. Iranian military officials also warned that future attacks on U.S. warships could become more severe if Washington continued interfering with Iranian shipping.
The exchange represents another escalation in a conflict that began with U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28. After a month of relative calm, fighting resumed, including strikes near the Strait of Hormuz and in southern Iran. Iranian authorities have accused the United States of hitting a wedding, killing four people and injuring others. U.S. Central Command said it was investigating those allegations.
The confrontation combines military, economic and diplomatic disputes. Washington has sought to restrict Iranian oil revenue through sanctions, a naval blockade and attacks on vessels believed to evade those measures. Iran, meanwhile, has asserted control over the Strait of Hormuz, a major route for global energy shipments.
Diplomatic efforts have stalled. Negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program collapsed after a memorandum of understanding was signed in June, and Western governments are considering referring Iran to the United Nations Security Council over alleged noncompliance with nuclear obligations.