The United States says it has destroyed three Iranian oil tankers in response to what it described as failed missile attacks on American naval vessels, as renewed hostilities between Washington and Tehran continue.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Saturday that the vessels were linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and formed part of a network allegedly used to finance the military group and its regional allies.
CENTCOM said American forces disabled two crude oil carriers, the M/T Downy near Kharg Island and the M/T Stark 1 near Jask. It also said the M/T Kylo, which was carrying no cargo, was struck several times in the Gulf of Oman after its crew was ordered to abandon the vessel.
According to the US military, the attacks followed attempted strikes by Iran against American warships.
CENTCOM commander Admiral Brad Cooper said the US response was intended to impose greater economic costs on Iran, stating that Washington would respond by targeting three Iranian vessels after attacks on two US ships.
Iranian media reported explosions near Kharg Island, one of the country’s major oil hubs, earlier on Saturday.
The latest escalation comes amid a six-month conflict between the two countries, with Iran maintaining pressure on the strategic Strait of Hormuz while the United States continues efforts to restrict Iranian oil exports and impose additional sanctions.
Tehran has also claimed responsibility for attacks on US military bases in Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, saying they were retaliation for civilian deaths allegedly caused by an American strike.
US officials have disputed or questioned some of Iran’s claims. Vice President JD Vance said reports that a US strike killed four people at a wedding were under investigation, while expressing scepticism about the account.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration has sought to downplay the conflict. Vance said he would not describe it as a war, while President Donald Trump referred to the conflict as “small potatoes” for the United States.
Washington has been particularly focused on the Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant share of global oil supplies previously passed.
The strategic waterway has remained heavily disrupted since a fragile ceasefire collapsed in July.
Trump has repeatedly threatened to claim control of the strait and previously shared a map depicting it as a potential new US territory.
Vance, however, said Iran’s control of the waterway was now “effectively gone,” as the US administration seeks to reassure markets that oil shipments through the region are gradually returning to pre-war levels.
