US Navy Blasts Three Iranian Oil Tankers After Missile Attack — Warns It Will 'Destroy' Tehran's Fleet
The United States military has struck three Iranian oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz after its warships came under ballistic missile fire, marking a sharp escalation in the conflict that is now rattling global oil markets.
The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed the strikes on Saturday, saying they were a direct response to the attack on American vessels. In a stark warning, CENTCOM said it would, if necessary, "destroy Iran's limited and exposed oil fleet." Video released by the military showed fire and smoke rising from one of the tankers at an undisclosed location [236007].
The strikes come after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy announced it had hit three oil tankers in the strait, warning that "any suspicious movement" by ships would be met with force. The waterway carries roughly 20% of the world's petroleum [235952]. Tehran has condemned the U.S. action as "illegal, aggressive" and a "war crime," saying it endangers civilian vessels and global trade routes [235957].
The exchange has pushed oil prices higher and sent Treasury yields to their highest levels of the day, as investors worry the renewed hostilities could trigger a fresh wave of inflation [232547]. Both nations are now claiming control of the strait, a narrow passage between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, raising fears of supply disruptions [235933].
Oman has rejected a proposal from Iran to jointly charge service fees on commercial ships passing through the strait, with a senior regional official saying the country wants to avoid a confrontation [235997]. The U.S. military said its strikes were defensive, aimed at preventing an imminent attack on commercial shipping, after Washington accused Tehran of preparing to mine the waterway [231936]. No immediate casualty figures have been released from either side.