Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said Saturday that it had targeted three oil tankers traveling along what it described as an unauthorized route in the Strait of Hormuz, as well as three US vessels, in response to the US targeting three Iranian oil tankers.
The IRGC Navy said the attacks came in response to US strikes, warning vessels using unauthorized routes in the Strait of Hormuz that they would be subject to targeting.
The escalation followed an announcement by the US Central Command (CENTCOM) that it had targeted three oil tankers linked to the IRGC after what it said was the launch of Iranian ballistic missiles toward two US warships.
CENTCOM said US forces disabled the Downey oil tanker off the coast of Khark Island and the Stark 1 near Jask, while destroying the empty Kilo oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman. It said no US military personnel were injured.
According to CENTCOM, the three tankers were part of a multibillion-dollar oil network financing Iran’s IRGC and its proxies in the region. CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper said Washington would impose a “greater economic cost” on Tehran in response to attacks on its vessels.
Tehran Condemns Strikes, Vows Stronger Response
Iran’s Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the targeting of its vessels in the Gulf and Gulf of Oman, describing the US measures as “illegal and aggressive acts” and saying that the naval blockade and economic warfare posed a threat to maritime security.
Tehran reaffirmed its determination to defend its sovereignty and national interests against what it described as US hostile actions.
Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, the Iranian armed forces’ central operations command, said continued targeting of Iranian vessels and the naval blockade would be met with a “stronger response” against US military vessels in the region, warning that the operations could expand.
Iranian state television reported that explosions heard on the islands of Qeshm and Jask resulted from what it described as the “punishment of violating vessels” in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian Official: We Are in an Existential War
In media statements, the spokesperson for the Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee said Iran was “in an existential war with America,” reaffirming Tehran’s commitment to the memorandum of understanding and accusing Washington of seeking escalation.
He added that the blockade should not have existed under the memorandum of understanding, saying Iran was in a defensive rather than offensive position in the face of US escalation.
Hegseth Threatens Iranian Oil Tankers
US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, meanwhile, threatened to target Iranian oil tankers, saying the United States was capable of striking Iran’s tanker fleet in the areas covered by Central Command and the Pacific Command.
He added that Iran’s tanker fleet was “defenseless,” warning that Washington would destroy Iranian oil tankers if Tehran fired on US vessels.
Cooper had earlier warned that the United States would not hesitate to defend its forces and destroy Iran’s oil fleet if necessary, stressing that the US response followed Iranian attacks on two warships.
Hormuz at the Heart of the Escalation
The escalation comes as maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz faces significant disruption, with the number of vessels passing through the vital waterway declining amid security concerns and tensions between Washington and Tehran.
Recent data showed that only four cargo ships passed through the strait on one day of the week, compared with an average of 15 vessels over a 10-day period.
The Strait of Hormuz is a major route for global energy trade, making any military escalation around it a concern for markets. Oil prices have risen amid fears of supply disruptions.
The latest escalation follows a period of relative calm, as Washington continues its economic and military pressure on Tehran amid stalled diplomatic efforts and ongoing disputes over navigation through the strait.
The latest developments indicate that the confrontation has entered a more dangerous phase, with oil tankers and commercial shipping directly entering the scope of targeting and mutual threats between the two sides.
Source: AFP
