Iran-US Tensions Escalate as US Forces Destroy 5 Iranian Oil Tankers

WASHINGTON: The US Central Command (CENTCOM) has said American forces destroyed five Iranian oil tankers carrying crude oil following what it described as repeated attempts by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to target a US warship with ballistic missiles.

According to CENTCOM, the action against the Iranian tankers came after two alleged missile attacks against an American warship over a two-day period.

The US military said the warship successfully thwarted both missile attack attempts and that no American personnel were injured in the incidents.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned Tehran that further attempts to target American warships could result in Iran losing more of its oil tankers.

The US military described the destruction of the Iranian vessels as a response to what Washington said were recent attacks directed at American naval forces.

Meanwhile, Iranian state media reported that Iran had launched missile strikes against US targets in Jordan.

However, the US Central Command did not immediately provide details regarding the reported missile attack on an American airbase in Jordan.

The latest developments mark another escalation in the confrontation between Washington and Tehran, with military operations increasingly affecting both naval activity and Iran’s oil exports.

The Strait of Hormuz and surrounding waters remain a major flashpoint, while attacks involving commercial and military vessels could create further pressure on regional energy supplies and international oil markets.