The United States and Iran have engaged in a fresh exchange of naval strikes, marking a significant escalation in a conflict that has intensified over the past week. The latest hostilities saw the US target Iranian oil tankers following an Iranian missile attack on US Navy ships, with both sides issuing threats of further action.
US Central Command, responsible for military operations in the Middle East, confirmed it had struck three Iranian oil tankers. One of the tankers was reportedly located off the coast of Kharg Island, a key oil export hub for Iran. This action, according to US Central Command, was a direct response to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launching ballistic missiles at two US Navy vessels.
Admiral Brad Cooper, head of US Central Command, issued a clear warning to Iran following the strikes. He stated, "Let the message to the IRGC be clear: If you shoot at two of our ships, we will impose an even higher economic cost — taking out three of yours." US Central Command added that no American personnel were harmed during the earlier Iranian missile attacks.
In retaliation, the IRGC responded with threats to intensify strikes against US military vessels operating in the region. Subsequently, the IRGC claimed to have targeted three tankers that it asserted were navigating unauthorised routes within the Strait of Hormuz. Additionally, the IRGC reported striking three other vessels it described as US-linked in separate areas.
The IRGC Navy conveyed a direct warning via Iranian state television, cautioning against any unauthorised maritime activity. The statement advised, "Do not be deceived by the 'terrorist' U.S. military and refrain from any suspicious movement aimed at passing through unauthorised waterways. Otherwise, you will be targeted."
This most recent exchange follows a period of heightened tensions and attacks that began to escalate in the past week, threatening to deepen a protracted conflict. The ongoing hostilities have their roots in earlier strikes launched by the US and Israel against targets in Iran in February.
Regarding the US strike on Iranian tankers, Tasnim, a semi-official Iranian news agency, reported that four US missiles had hit a tanker in the anchorage area near Kharg Island. Tasnim, citing local sources, indicated that there were no casualties from this incident, and the tanker's crew was being evacuated.
The escalation also comes in the wake of a separate incident where at least five people were reported killed in a suspected US attack on a wedding in Iran. This particular strike represented the heaviest exchange between Tehran and Washington since July. The Iranian Red Crescent (IRC) has since called upon the International Criminal Court (ICC) to launch an investigation into the wedding incident. The IRC requested "an independent, impartial, thorough, and effective investigation," emphasising the "civilian character of the location."
Iran has publicly accused the United States of committing "war crimes" in connection with the wedding attack. The US, however, maintains its position that it does not target civilians in its military operations.
