US military disables three Iranian oil tankers in retaliation for attacks on warships

The US military says it disabled three Iranian oil tankers in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, calling the action retaliation for an attack on two American warships.

US Central Command, known as Centcom, said Iran’s Revolutionary Guards had fired ballistic missiles at the ships while they were patrolling the waters. A US aircraft carrier and a guided-missile destroyer successfully avoided several attacks, according to the command, and no American crew members were injured.

The three crude oil tankers belonged to what the US military described as a billion-dollar shadow network that finances the Revolutionary Guards and their regional allies. Centcom said Iran had no means to defend the vessels.

Admiral Brad Cooper, Centcom’s commander, said the message to the Revolutionary Guards was clear: “If you shoot at two of our ships, we will impose even higher economic costs on you by taking out three of your ships.” He added that US forces were prepared to destroy Iran’s small and unprotected oil fleet.

Iranian media earlier reported explosions near Kharg Island, a strategically important Persian Gulf site. Tasnim news agency said four US missiles struck an Iranian oil tanker about 11 kilometers off the island’s coast. No casualties were reported, and the crew evacuated the ship. Kharg is Iran’s main crude export hub, with reports saying that more than 90% of the country’s exports pass through it.

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If you shoot at two of our ships, we will impose even higher economic costs on you by taking out three of your ships.