U.S. military forces conducted strikes on three Iranian oil tankers in response to ballistic missile attacks on Navy warships, stated the American military on Saturday. The military warned of the potential destruction of Iran’s vulnerable oil fleet if needed. This action was deemed by experts as a risky escalation following Iran’s previous assaults on commercial ships at sea.
The strikes occurred on the heels of President Donald Trump downplaying the conflict as insignificant. The recent military actions mark a shift back to combat operations after a period of intermittent hostilities that commenced with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran in February. Both sides have been aiming to inflict military and economic harm on each other, with diplomatic efforts collapsing.
According to the military’s report, an American aircraft carrier and a destroyer evaded multiple unprovoked Iranian attacks while patrolling the region, resulting in no injuries to U.S. personnel. The statement disclosed that two Iranian oil tankers were rendered inoperable, while the third, which was empty, was destroyed.
Iran retaliated by reportedly targeting three oil tankers and three American vessels in response to the U.S. strikes, as per Iran’s state broadcaster. This claim is yet to be verified. A spokesperson from Iran’s joint military command cautioned that further strikes on U.S. military ships would escalate if the U.S. continued to interfere with Iranian shipping.
The U.S. Central Command’s Admiral Brad Cooper emphasized the readiness to defend American forces and eradicate Iran’s exposed oil fleet if necessary. Iran condemned the attacks as war crimes and placed responsibility for ongoing U.S. aggression, including economic warfare, on Washington and its allies.
The recent strikes followed a week of renewed hostilities between the U.S. and Iran, culminating in attacks on the Strait of Hormuz and adjacent Iranian communities. The resumption of violence came amid U.S. efforts to intensify economic pressure on Tehran, while the elected government of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian advocated for a negotiated resolution to the conflict.
The U.S. and its allies are considering referring Iran to the U.N. Security Council for alleged noncompliance with nuclear nonproliferation obligations, after failed negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program. In the midst of these developments, Iran’s control over the vital Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global oil and gas shipments, has become a focal point, impacting international maritime traffic.