Iran’s state television on Thursday reported that a United States oil tanker had been struck by a missile in the Persian Gulf, marking what Iranian authorities described as the latest escalation in attacks targeting the region’s vital energy infrastructure.
According to a statement issued by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the vessel was “hit by a missile in the north of the Persian Gulf” and is currently on fire.
However, the report has not been independently confirmed, and there has been no immediate response from US officials regarding the alleged attack.
Iranian state media also quoted the Revolutionary Guards as claiming that they now have “full control” of the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically important waterway connecting the Persian Gulf to the Indian Ocean.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical maritime corridors, with a significant portion of global oil and gas shipments passing through it daily.
Any disruption in the narrow passage could have major implications for international energy markets.
Iran Accuses US of Sinking Warship
The reported tanker strike comes shortly after Iran accused the United States of attacking one of its naval vessels in international waters.
Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, alleged that the US had sunk an Iranian frigate far from Iranian territory.
Writing on X, Araghchi claimed the Iranian warship IRIS Dena was struck without warning off the coast of Sri Lanka.
“The US has perpetrated an atrocity at sea, 2,000 miles away from Iran’s shores,” he said.
“Frigate Dena, a guest of India’s Navy carrying almost 130 sailors, was struck in international waters without warning.”
He warned that Washington would “bitterly regret” the precedent set by the attack.
The incident further heightens tensions across the Middle East, where the conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran has intensified in recent days.
The Strait of Hormuz has long been viewed as a potential flashpoint in global energy security, and any military confrontation in the area risks disrupting the flow of oil shipments through the Gulf.
If confirmed, the attack on the tanker would represent a major escalation in the conflict, raising concerns among global powers about the safety of international shipping routes and the possibility of wider regional instability.
