U.S. adopts ‘tanker for tanker’ policy as Iran strikes back, escalating clashes

The United States has struck two Iranian government-owned tankers for the first time, adopting what Washington describes as a new “tanker for tanker” response to attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. The move came as U.S. forces launched another large-scale attack on Iran, and Iran retaliated against American military bases across the Middle East.

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tanker for tanker

U.S. Central Command said it began attacking Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targets in Iran from noon Eastern time on the first day of the month. It said the strikes followed recent attempts by the Revolutionary Guard to attack commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz and U.S. troops in the region.

Axios, citing U.S. officials, reported that about 100 targets were hit. They included air-defense and radar facilities, mine-laying capabilities, communications installations, anti-ship cruise-missile launchers and attack-drone launch sites. Two Iranian government-owned tankers were also targeted. The vessels were anchored off Iran, north of a U.S.-declared maritime blockade line, and U.S. drones reportedly fired missiles into their engine rooms.

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much stronger and at a higher level

This marked the first time the U.S. military had struck Iranian tankers as direct retaliation for attacks on shipping in the strait, rather than to enforce the blockade. A U.S. official said President Donald Trump approved the policy to deter further attacks. The operation also reflected a strategy the Trump administration has considered, involving limited strikes whenever Iran rebuilds radar and missile capabilities needed to threaten shipping. One U.S. official told Axios that the strikes had secured at least a month of reduced threats to commercial vessels.

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the biggest attack is still waiting

Iran quickly responded. U.S. officials said Iran launched about 25 ballistic missiles toward a U.S. base in Jordan, with roughly half reaching Jordanian airspace and 10 intercepted. Iran also sent about 24 drones toward a U.S. base in Bahrain, most of which were intercepted, while missiles and drones targeted bases in Kuwait and Erbil. The Revolutionary Guard claimed it killed several U.S. personnel in Erbil and shot down an MQ-9 drone, but Iraqi and U.S. officials did not confirm those claims. Trump said he would respond “much stronger and at a higher level” if Iran retaliated again, adding that “the biggest attack is still waiting.” Iranian media separately reported at least four people killed and more than 50 wounded at a wedding hall in Hormozgan province. U.S. Central Command said it does not attack civilians.

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The U.S. military does not attack civilians.