Three Iranian tankers struck in retaliation for missile attacks, US military says
(CNN) — The United States military said Saturday its forces struck three Iranian crude oil carriers after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched ballistic missiles toward two US Navy warships.
The fresh exchanges threaten to heighten a shipping war in and beyond the Persian Gulf, as Iran seeks to prevent shipping transiting the Strait of Hormuz without its consent and the US steps up targeting of Iranian shipping.
The two sides traded strikes earlier this week for the first time in over a month and the new attacks risk another retaliatory cycle.
“A U.S. aircraft carrier and guided-missile destroyer successfully evaded multiple unprovoked Iranian attacks,” the statement from US Central Command said on Saturday.
In response, US forces “permanently disabled the IRGC crude oil carriers M/T Downy off the coast of Kharg Island and M/T Stark 1 near Jask.”
Outside the Persian Gulf, according to CENTCOM, an unladen crude tanker called the M/T Kylo was “completely destroyed” after being hit multiple times to render it inoperable.
“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,” said Adm. Brad Cooper, the CENTCOM commander.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wrote Saturday on X, “It’s simple: if Iran shoots at U.S. ships, we will destroy (and sink) their oil tankers. All they have to do is stop shooting at @USNavy.”
Hegseth added that the US could strike Iran’s oil tanker fleet in the Middle East or in the Indo-Pacific region, writing, “Iran’s oil tanker fleet is defenseless — Iran has no navy or air force.”
Iran’s state news agency IRNA reported the statement by US Central Command, adding that “Iranian officials emphasized that they would respond strongly to any attack.” But there has been no word from the Iranian leadership.
Earlier Saturday, Iranian news agencies had said that a tanker came under missile attack by US forces near Kharg Island. The tanker was hit by four projectiles fired by US forces, Tasnim reported. There were no casualties, the agency added.
Audio confirmed by CNN showed that a US military aircraft issued warnings to the ship via an emergency channel. In one, an American-accented voice says: “Motor Tanker STARK 1, this is the United States military aircraft. I am preparing to fire at your stern. You have 10 minutes to clear the crew from the stern of your ship. Over.”
In a later exchange, the ship is warned: “This was your final warning… get into your lifeboats and abandon the ship immediately.”
The conflict between Iran and the United States is in a volatile limbo, with both battling for control over the vital Strait of Hormuz, which is critical for global oil supplies.
Kharg Island, a coral outcrop off Iran’s coast, has typically handled roughly 90% of the country’s crude oil exports. The island has been attacked throughout the conflict and US President Donald Trump has previously threatened to capture it.
Shipping data and satellite imagery indicates there are nearly 20 Iranian tankers at anchor near Kharg, unable to exit the Gulf because of the US naval blockade but in many cases fully laden.
In the Gulf as a whole and just beyond – in the Gulf of Oman – there are more than 50 Iranian tankers, according to ship tracking services.
On Thursday, US Vice President JD Vance denied the conflict should even be described as a “war,” adding that despite the recent flare-up there was “no active shooting.”
He also refused to lay out a timetable for ending the conflict, suggesting instead it was up to Iran to conclude the conflict that began with joint US-Israeli airstrikes six months ago.
This story has been updated with additional information.
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