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🇶🇦 Qatar /Conflict & Security

US and Iran wage tanker war as months-long conflict spreads across the Strait of Hormuz

From Al Jazeera · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Analysis Named sources Ongoing story
  • The United States struck three Iranian vessels, while Iran targeted tankers and fired ballistic missiles toward a US aircraft carrier and destroyer near the Strait of Hormuz.
  • The latest exchanges have intensified a months-long maritime confrontation centered on a key route for energy supplies.
  • The attacks have further weakened hopes for diplomatic de-escalation as the conflict disrupts energy flows and slows global economic growth.

The United States and Iran have escalated their months-long conflict at sea, trading attacks on tankers and warships near the Strait of Hormuz. Washington says it struck three Iranian vessels, while Tehran says it targeted tankers and launched ballistic missiles toward US naval forces.

If you shoot at two of our ships, we will impose an even higher economic cost, taking out three of yours.

· Admiral Brad CooperThe CENTCOM commander described the US strikes on three Iranian vessels as retaliation for Iranian missile launches against a US aircraft carrier and destroyer.

US Central Command said its forces hit a tanker off Kharg Island, the hub through which Iran exported 90 percent of its crude before the war. A second tanker came under attack near Jask, while an empty vessel was struck in the Gulf of Oman after its crew received orders to abandon ship.

CENTCOM said the strikes followed Iranian missile launches against a US aircraft carrier and a navy destroyer. It said both ships evaded the attacks and that no US personnel were injured. “If you shoot at two of our ships, we will impose an even higher economic cost, taking out three of yours,” CENTCOM commander Admiral Brad Cooper said.

a very, very significant development

· Wolfgang PusztaiThe defence analyst assessed Iran’s targeting of a US destroyer and aircraft carrier.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it had launched “several ballistic missiles” at the carrier and destroyer, accusing them of harassing Iranian ships and participating in a naval blockade. Defence analyst Wolfgang Pusztai described the targeting of a destroyer and an aircraft carrier as “a very, very significant development” and said the US retaliation was not surprising.

several ballistic missiles

· Islamic Revolutionary Guard CorpsThe IRGC described the missiles launched at the US aircraft carrier and destroyer.

Iran later said its forces had targeted three oil tankers using what it called an “unauthorised route” through the Strait of Hormuz, as well as three US-linked vessels elsewhere. The IRGC navy warned vessels in the Gulf and near the strait not to be “deceived” by the US military and to avoid suspicious movement aimed at using an unauthorised route. The attacks came as Washington claimed that more oil was moving through the strait, although the figures remain disputed, while a naval blockade of Iranian ports continued.

unauthorised route

· Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps NavyThe IRGC used the term for the route taken by tankers it said Iranian forces targeted in the Strait of Hormuz.
About this summary

Originally published by Al Jazeera in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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