US Military Disables Three Iranian Oil Tankers After Missile Attacks

The United States says it struck three Iranian oil tankers after Iranian ballistic missiles targeted two US Navy ships. Iran responded with a warning that its next attacks on American naval vessels would be more severe.

US Central Command said an aircraft carrier and a guided-missile destroyer evaded multiple Iranian attacks and that no US personnel were injured. It said American forces permanently disabled the M/T Downy off Kharg Island and the M/T Stark 1 near Jask. They also destroyed the empty M/T Kylo, also known as the Noxen, in the Gulf of Oman after ordering its crew to abandon ship.

“

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.

CENTCOM described the vessels as part of a “multibillion-dollar shadow network” allegedly used to finance the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its regional proxies. Adm. Brad Cooper, the command’s leader, said, “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.”

Cooper added, “We will not hesitate to defend American forces, and if necessary, destroy Iran’s limited and exposed oil fleet.”

“

We will not hesitate to defend American forces, and if necessary, destroy Iran’s limited and exposed oil fleet.

Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya central command issued its own warning. “The US terrorist army is warned that if the evil actions, insecurity and harassment of Iranian ships and the naval blockade of Iran continue, the strikes by the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran against US military vessels in the region will be more severe than before and there is a possibility of their expansion,” it said.

Tensions have risen since US-Israeli attacks on Iran began on February 28, followed by Iranian missile and drone strikes against Israel and US interests. Washington and Tehran signed a June 18 memorandum on freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, but implementation has stalled over security arrangements. Iran has also threatened retaliation if what it calls insecurity, harassment of its ships and a naval blockade continue.

“

The US terrorist army is warned that if the evil actions, insecurity and harassment of Iranian ships and the naval blockade of Iran continue, the strikes by the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran against US military vessels in the region will be more severe than before and there is a possibility of their expansion.